Team USA Olympic hockey hero Jack Hughes spoke about his support for his country’s women’s hockey team after his team was the subject of backlash for laughing at a joke by President Donald Trump about the women’s team. 

During an interview on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” Friday, Hughes opened up about his respect for the women’s team after McAfee appeared to reference the controversy by joking that Hughes and his teammates “hate” the women players. 

“We are hanging out with them so much, the women’s team. We were supporting them. Like, we were at their games, they were at our games,” Hughes said. 

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Jack Hughes of the United States celebrates after a gold medal win during against Canadaat Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games Feb. 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy.  (Elsa/Getty Images)

Hughes then appeared to address the recent criticism of his team for its response to Trump’s joke.

“Like all these people talking, how many of them watched their gold medal game? Me and Quinn Hughes were at the game. We were at the game until like overtime ended on the glass, and we were jumping up and down so excited for these girls, so excited they won,” Hughes said. 

“And how many of these people watched the gold medal game, watched their semifinals game? Like 10 of the 10 of our players went to their game in the round-robin. Like, we supported them so much, and we’re so proud of them. We’re so happy that they won, and they brought a gold medal back and that, you know, I said it, the men’s and women’s team both brought gold medals back. So, just unbelievable for USA hockey.”

Hughes, who scored the game-winning overtime goal against Canada to win gold, reflected on his interaction with the player on the U.S. women’s team who did the same, Megan Keller.

“Me and her had a great moment in the cafeteria after her gold medal game. We played Slovakia the next night, and it was like a late game. And we were in the pasta line — me and Megan. They were just getting ready to go out again, and I just gave her a massive hug, and I said, ‘I’m so happy for you. I’m so proud of you,’” Hughes said. 

“A couple nights later, saw her again in the [cafeteria], and we took a great picture and, uh, she just gave me a big hug and was so pumped for me as well.” 

Hughes told reporters after the game the first thing he thought about when the puck went in was Keller, who scored the golden goal for the United States women’s team against Canada three days earlier.

US WOMEN’S HOCKEY GOLD MEDALIST SAYS IT’S ‘SAD’ MEN’S TEAM HAD TO APOLOGIZE FOR OLYMPICS CONTROVERSY

The controversy surrounding the men’s team stemmed from a locker room phone call between the players and Trump right after their gold medal win over Canada. 

Trump told the men’s team after inviting them to Tuesday’s State of the Union address that he’d “have” to invite the women’s team, otherwise “I probably would be impeached.” The team laughed in response, prompting immense backlash. 

Several mainstream media outlets penned op-eds condemning the men’s team for laughing at the joke and then visiting the White House to celebrate and Trump’s State of the Union address. 

The United States’ Jack Hughes (86), who scored the winning overtime goal, celebrates after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy Feb. 22, 2026.  (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

U.S. women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight said on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” that Trump’s “distasteful joke” has “overshadow[ed]” the women’s success.

“I thought it was sort of a distasteful joke, and, unfortunately, that is overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats,” Knight said.

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“We’re just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts, and continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history as well as the double gold for both men’s and women’s at the same time. And really not detract from that with a distasteful joke.”

Hughes’ mother, Ellen, a former Team USA player and current player development staff member, said the players only cared about “bring[ing] so much unity to a group and to a country.”

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Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has broken his silence amid rumours that he is planning to get married for the third time. In a detailed statement, the veteran all-rounder strongly refuted the claims, which he described as “false and fabricated” stories. He also condemned the trolls targeting his wife, Sana Javed, saying that his silence has been taken for granted. Malik’s marriage with Indian tennis great Sania Mirza, with whom he has a son, ended in 2023 by mutual consent.

In 2024, he married Pakistani actress Sana Javed on January 19 in a private Nikah ceremony in Karachi.

“It was early 2023 when my first marriage ended. With mutual consent, it was decided that we will co-parent our child. It was only after this that I got remarried. I’ve always sought to keep my private life private, out of respect for my family. However, my silence seems to have been taken for granted,” Malik said in the statement.

Shoaib Malik decline all the rumors about his marriage and also announce a legal action against false propagation pic.twitter.com/mfNaEFFIOT

— Ali (@FAheemAli_14) February 28, 2026

Malik insisted that his son is old enough to read such stories, which was one of the major reasons for him to address the fabricated narrative that has caused “distress” to his loved ones.

“I feel this has reached a point where it must be addressed, as my son is now at an age where he’ll be reading these false and fabricated stories, spread for views for mere pennies of earnings. These lame accusations are causing distress to those who I care about,” his statement added.

Malik also urged individuals to respect his privacy, threatening legal action in case of failure to do so.

“Act responsibly; there is much more to life than just a few likes and views. I have a family just like you all do. I hope this message is taken positively, and assumptions/jokes about my personal life will stop. Failure to do so will result in strict legal action from my team against individuals and firms,” the statement added.

Tom Sherry’s commitment to riding King Of Roseau with a light impost has borne fruit, as the rapid type stormed to success in the Group Three Liverpool City Cup at Randwick in 2026.

“He had 54 (kilos) today, so he tested me a bit this morning. I was glad it all worked out OK,” Sherry said.

“We had the right run in the race today. He quickened extremely well.”

Previously fourth behind the winner in the 2024 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) during his juvenile year and runner-up twice in Listed company at three, King Of Roseau’s prime has arrived later in his career.

He lifted the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in August and once more showcased his devastating close to claim the $2 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast last month.

“We saw what he did down in Melbourne in the Aurie’s Star and in the Magic Millions. He has been an absolute revelation his last couple of preparations,” trainer Peter Snowden’s assistant, Aaron Lau, said.

“When he’s on song, he’s got a lethal turn of foot.”

Having raced steadily since November under Snowden’s spaced-out schedule, Lau is weighing options for prolonging the campaign with prestigious carnival events on the horizon.

“We’ll have a good think. The races only get tougher from here and he’s probably a few rungs behind those topliners,” Lau said.

“But if we set him for the right races, he will certainly make his presence felt.”

Launching a blistering run from the tail of the field, King Of Roseau ($8.50) prevailed by 1-1/4 lengths over Enriched ($7.50), with Axius ($4.40) a mere head behind in third.

Discover the best betting sites offering racing odds for the Liverpool City Cup and similar features.

Pep Guardiola’s side have come away with all three points at Elland Road, piling further pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race

The Premier League title race is heating up and looks set to go down to the wire with only a couple of months of the season remaining. Manchester City secured another important win, beating Leeds United 1-0 at Elland Road on Saturday evening.

Antoine Semenyo scored the opening goal on the cusp of half-time, tapping in a cross from Rayan Cherki. The result cuts the gap to Arsenal to just two points, and City still have a game in hand against Crystal Palace.

That fixture was originally scheduled for the weekend of the Carabao Cup final, when City will face Arsenal at Wembley on March 22. Arsenal, meanwhile, will look to restore their lead to five points when they host Chelsea on Sunday.

With that said, the Manchester Evening News has taken a look at City’s and Arsenal’s next five fixtures after the win at Leeds.

Arsenal (1st – 61 points)

Chelsea (H) – Sunday, March 1 (4:30pm) – Premier League.

Brighton (A) – Wednesday, March 4 (7:30pm) – Premier League.

Mansfield Town (A) – Saturday, March 7 (12:15pm) – FA Cup.

Everton (H) – Sunday, March 15 (2pm) – Premier League.

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Manchester City – Sunday, March 22 (4:30pm) – Carabao Cup.

Manchester City (2nd – 59 points)

Nottingham Forest (H) – Wednesday, March 4 (7:30pm) – Premier League.

Newcastle United (A) – Saturday, March 7 (8pm) – FA Cup.

West Ham (A) – Saturday, March 14 (12:30pm) – Premier League.

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Arsenal (A) – Sunday, March 22 (4:30pm) – Carabao Cup.

Chelsea (A) – Saturday, April 11 (TBC) – Premier League.

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