Who is Connor Hellebuyck? Team USA goalie will receive Presidential Medal of Freedom after Olympic gold

President Donald Trump welcomes Team USA men's hockey to the State of the Union address days after winning gold at the Winter Olympics.

Entering the Olympics, there's a decent chance you did not know who Connor Hellebuyck was, but now he's an American hero.

Hellebuyck made 41 saves in Sunday's gold medal game, including one with his stick behind his back to help secure the United States' first Olympic gold medal in men's hockey since 1980.

The talk around Hellebuyck in NHL circles has always been his performance in big games, and in the biggest game of his life, he delivered on a worldwide stage.

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Connor Hellebuyck celebrates a 2-1 victory against Canada in overtime for the gold medal during the Winter Olympics at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Hellebuyck, 32, was not exactly a top prospect in his younger days but made a name for himself at UMass Amherst. After being a fourth-round pick by the Winnipeg Jets (130th overall) in 2012, he spent two seasons in college, winning the Hockey East Conference both times, making the Frozen Four in his freshman year, and being named the top college goalie in his sophomore season.

Hellebuyck made his NHL debut on Nov. 27, 2015, winning his first four games and recording a shutout in just his ninth. He broke out in his third season, leading the NHL with 44 wins en route to not only his first All-Star nod but also finishing second in the Vezina Trophy voting as the league’s top goaltender, an award he took home two years later.

The Olympics was not the first time Hellebuyck represented the United States, either — he was on the team in the 4 Nations and played in the