Olympic hero Connor Hellebuyck to receive America’s highest civilian honor

Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will receive America’s highest civilian honor in tribute to his gold medal-winning performance against Canada.

Hellebuyck was the netminder who helped Team USA defeat Canada in Sunday’s gold medal game in the Milan-Cortina Olympics, stopping 46 shots on goal in a 2-1 overtime victory.

President Donald Trump, who welcomed the U.S. hockey team to the Oval Office on Tuesday, announced during his State of the Union address that he would award Hellebuyck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The award is considered to be the highest civilian honor in the U.S., and can be awarded to “any person recommended to the president for award of the medal, or any person selected by the president upon his own initiative.”

According to the White House, the medal can be awarded to anyone who advances the national interests of the U.S., of world peace, or who has advanced American interests in cultural endeavors.

The award is not limited to U.S. citizens.

Trump said every single player from the U.S. team held an informal vote in the Oval Office, and they unanimously voted for Hellebuyck to receive the award.

After making 41 saves in the gold medal game, Connor Hellebuyck reflects on representing Team USA, his clutch stick save and why NHL players returning to the Olympics was “something hockey needed.”

Among the athletes to receive the award are Argentinian soccer legend Lionel Messi, legendary Olympian Jim Thorpe, swimmer Katie Ledecky, and soccer legend Megan Rapinoe, all of whom were honored with the award by former President Joe Biden.

In his first term, Trump awarded the honor to golfers Tiger Woods, Gary Player and Annika Sorenstam. He also awarded it to New York Yankees legend Mariano Rivera, former Los Angeles Lakers star Jerry West, and former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, among other famous athletes.