A Canadian sports reporter blamed the internet for backlash she received over her questions to American hockey players.

Members of Team USA men's Olympic hockey team have been lectured by media members for days now after laughing at a joke made by President Trump over the phone.

'If we were to do it again, I think we wouldn't do that, and we made a mistake.'

Trump called the team in the locker room after their gold medal win on Sunday and made a joke that has offended woke reporters, seemingly worldwide.

"We're going to have to bring the women's team," the president joked about the Team USA women, who also won gold. He added that he "probably would be impeached" if he didn't.

For daring to laugh, U.S. players have been subjected to struggle sessions in their individual markets from hockey reporters. Seemingly the worst of such examples has come out of Canada's capital, where Americans Jake Sanderson and Brady Tkachuk play for the Ottawa Senators.

Both players were given a browbeating from TSN reporter Claire Hanna, a Canadian who lists her pronouns as "she/her" on her X page.

Sanderson told reporters that while he thought things had been "blown out of proportion a little bit," he still thought it was a "mistake" to laugh at the president's joke.

"We have nothing but the utmost respect for the women. We had a lounge in the village that we were hanging out with them all the time, watching other events," Sanderson said.

That answer was not good enough, though, and Hanna sought further clarification.

"Do you understand in the moment how much it could hurt a team to hear them kind of just be put down that way?" the female reporter asked.

"If we were to do it again, I think we wouldn't do that, and we made a mistake. But again, I think it kind of got blown out of proportion a little bit," Sanderson answered.

The scrum of reporters was incessant with questions about the Trump call and the players' subsequent visit to the White House and State of the Union address.

Tkachuk was not spared from these queries, explaining that only 15 minutes after leaving the ice with the gold medal, "You have the president of the United States calling you. You just can't really believe [it]."

"You're still riding the high of being a world champ, and for the president to take time and call ...," Tkachuk trailed off before sharing a memory from the Olympics.

Still, no amount of positive reinforcement about the women's team could save Tkachuk, as Hanna soon asked, "Do you understand how they could feel pretty put down by that moment?

"I get it," Tkachuk replied. "I have no really other comments other than, you know, for the things that we can control, and that was, you know, we supported them, they supported us. Can't control what other people say. That's just kind of life itself."

With Tkachuk praising the women's team and saying they were clearly the best squad in the tournament, most would think that Tkachuk had touched on the narrative enough, but Hanna again pressed forward.

'"So then why would you laugh when they got invited?" the reporter asked.

"I don't really have an answer, honestly," an exhausted Tkachuk stated. "It was just a whirlwind of a moment that you can't really control what somebody says, and I guess caught off guard a little bit. "

The American reiterated, "When you're talking to the president 10 minutes after you just achieve your dream, it's just the fact that you're talking to him. It's just, you can't really believe where your life's at, that you're talking to the president of the United States after you just won a gold medal."

Hanna, seemingly shrugging off a bevy of backlash, wrote on X, "I see the internet is angry today."

This only garnered more disgruntled fan remarks.

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Trump personally congratulates Olympic men's hockey team, tells them he would be 'impeached' if he doesn't do THIS

Shortly after Team USA's historic Olympic gold-medal victory in men's hockey on Sunday, the team had a special guest join them in the locker room — and an even more special guest phone in his congratulations.

Following USA's first gold-medal victory since 1980, the hockey team was joined by noted hockey fan FBI Director Kash Patel, who enthusiastically joined in the celebration.

'We're giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. I can send a military plane.'

After pounding a beer and banging his fist on a table in the locker room, Patel called President Donald Trump, who spoke with the team for a few minutes and offered them the opportunity of a lifetime.

On the call, President Trump joked that the goalie "played not bad."

"How you doing, Don?" said goalie Connor Hellebuyck in reply.

Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Then came Trump's offer: "We're giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. I can send a military plane. ... If you would like to, it's the coolest night."

The whole hockey team said they were in to attend.

Trump continued: "The nice thing about being president is, I can tell you, you don't have to worry about the weather or landing. We don't care if it's snowing or if it's the worst blizzard."

Trump then joked, "I must tell you, we're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know that," adding that he "probably would be impeached" if he neglected to invite the U.S. women's team since they also won the gold medal.

The president then offered the men's team his congratulations once more, saying: "You're going to be proud of that game for 50 years. ... I'm going to shake hands with everybody, but I got to shake hands with that goalie."

Patel received some criticism for joining the team in the locker room, but he defended his actions in a response on social media that has since gone viral: "For the very concerned media — yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys — Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth."

President Trump also took to Truth Social to congratulate the team: "Congratulations to our great U.S.A. Ice Hockey team. THEY WON THE GOLD. WOW!"

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Team USA's amazing gold-medal gesture you may have missed

Before a call from President Donald Trump and a few drinks with FBI Director Kash Patel, Team USA men's hockey made a heartfelt tribute to one of their compatriots.

After the players received their gold medals for a stunning 2-1 win over Team Canada on Sunday, viewers may have noticed a couple of youngsters on the ice posing for the team picture, along with a loose hockey jersey.

'When we got the call to come out, it felt like maybe he did make the team.'

No, those were not captain Auston Matthews' children. Nor were they superstar goalie Connor Hellebuyck's children. They were Noa and Johnny Jr., children of the late Johnny Gaudreau.

In 2023, Gaudreau, 31, and his younger brother Matthew, 29, were tragically killed by a drunk driver while riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. Gaudreau was one of the star players for the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, while Matthew was a former professional hockey player who last played in the ECHL.

In yet another wonderful gesture, Team USA invited Johnny Gaudreau's widow, Meredith, to join the team in Italy on Saturday, along with the Gaudreau brothers' parents, Guy and Jane. The whole family was in the audience for the gold-medal game.

"To be able to get it done like that, to win, to have his jersey out there in the team photo, have his kids come out and be with us, we're obviously thinking of him," Auston Matthews said, per ESPN. "Just felt like the impact that he's had on so many guys in this room is special. He was with us in spirit the whole tournament," Matthews added.

"It's fun to be a part of this," Meredith said before the game.

"When we got the call to come out, it felt like maybe he did make the team. So it's fun. Here to represent him and support everyone that's honoring him, as well."

Meredith revealed to a reporter that she only had two days' notice before making the trip overseas to join the squad, but she said it was something she simply could not pass up.

"Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the kids. So that was the main reason that drove me out here," the mother continued, before delivering some truly heartbreaking remarks.

"I feel like I have two roles in life now: It's honor John, my husband, and make sure these kids know how special their dad is and give them some special opportunities."

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

USA forward Dylan Larkin firmly stated that "Johnny and Matty should be here."

"That is the biggest loss that all of us at USA Hockey, their family, our family, has gone through," Larkin continued. "And to have Johnny Jr. and Noa out there, it just felt right."

Larkin added that he thought the Gaudreau brothers may have had a hand in stopping some pucks from going into the USA net.

"And I think part of those, the puck not going in our net, was somehow him standing there doing something, laughing with Matty. Just somehow they put a spell around our net where that puck didn't go in."

Larkin then joked around, reportedly smiling while saying, "Ironic, on the defensive side; he would've never been back there," he said about Johnny.

These comments nearly mirrored what was said about the late brothers by their sister, Katie.

Katie jokingly told Fox News that while her brothers were "never quite defensive," she thought a couple of saves had some assistance from above.

"Up there, they were definitely helping out."

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Stiff Competition

This book explores not death itself, but what remains after it: the human body. For most species, the dead simply decay where they fall. Humans, however, have long venerated their deceased, which explains the visceral disgust evoked by acts like body desecration, grave robbing, or unauthorized dissection. The book’s title nods to the "Doctors’ Riot" of 1788, a violent uprising in New York City triggered when teenage boys spotted a dissected arm dangling from a window at what would become Columbia University’s medical school. An enraged mob stormed the school and hospital, forcing doctors and staff to flee and hide in a nearby prison for safety. Order was restored only through the intervention of prominent figures like Alexander Hamilton and John Jay.

The post Stiff Competition appeared first on .

Canadian Doc ‘Coached’ 26-Year-Old To Qualify For State-Sponsored Suicide, Says Family

Vafaeian's family is now pushing for the reversal of the MAID provision that qualifies individuals whose deaths are not 'reasonably foreseeable.'

'I'm really proud': American snowboarder refuses to take the bait on question about representing USA

American snowboarder Chloe Kim was not looking to turn her Olympic event into a sideshow.

The two-time gold medalist from California was subject to the most popular — and divisive — question being asked of U.S. Olympians at the 2026 games in Italy.

'The US has given my family and I so much opportunity.'

On Monday, a female reporter asked a panel of Americans how they "feel representing Team USA right now."

The open-ended question has been a source of much controversy already, but when Kim spoke up, it was probably not what the reporter was hoping for.

"Obviously my parents being immigrants, this one definitely hits pretty close to home," Kim began. "I think in moments like these, it is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another for all that's going on."

While her answer was not likely to please both sides of the political aisle, Kim continued.

"I'm really proud to represent the United States. The U.S. has given my family and I so much opportunity. But I also think that we are allowed to voice our opinions on what's going on," the 25-year-old added. "And I think that we need to lead with love and compassion. And I would love to see some more of that."

The question in Livigno, Italy, seemed to be deliberately politically divisive. The reporter prefaced it with a reminder that President Donald Trump had called Kim's "teammate" Hunter Hess "a real loser."

Hess is an American freestyle skier who told reporters that he had "mixed emotions" about representing the United States, which the president replied to by saying Hess should not have tried out for the team.

"U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn't represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. If that's the case, he shouldn't have tried out for the Team, and it's too bad he’s on it," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Hess later walked back his comments, stating on his social media that he loves the United States, while adding, "But there are always things that could be better."

Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Kim, born in Torrance, California, is defending her Olympic gold in women's snowboard half-pipe, having won at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and the 2022 games in Beijing.

Kim qualified for the finals on Wednesday, finishing first in the qualifier ahead of Japan's Sara Shimuzu and American teammate Maddie Mastro, according to the Olympics.

The final takes place on Thursday, February 12, at 1:30 p.m. ET.

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Team USA women's hockey hands Canada its worst loss in Olympics history

The Canadians were beat every step of the way as Team USA delivered a historic beatdown on Tuesday.

A goal in each period saw the United States women's hockey team not only triumph over Canada, but it is one the neighbors to the north may never forget.

'Oh, you think you've done something, that's when the mountain eats you up.'

The 5-0 trounce included two goals from 24-year-old Texan Hannah Bilka and marked the first time ever Team Canada has failed to score a goal in a women's Olympic hockey game.

To add insult to injury, it was also the largest margin of defeat Canada has ever suffered at the hands of Team USA in both men and women's Olympic hockey.

"It's pretty special," said 21-year-old American Kirsten Simms, per NBC. "This group has been unbelievable from the start of the tournament, and I think we displayed that going against our known rivals. It's just good momentum for us going into the playoff rounds."

Simms scored just over a minute into the second period.

"We're playing a good brand of hockey, and we're just sticking to it," added Ohio native Laila Edwards, who scored in the third. "We're sticking to the principles, and that benefits us. We've got a great group that just gels really well together."

Coach John Wroblewski reminded his team not to get ahead of themselves, despite their record-setting victory. According to ESPN, the coach asked his team, "What's the hardest part of climbing the mountain?"

Wroblewski provided the answer himself:

"Getting home," he said. "If you ever feel good about climbing Mount Everest, it's the way down. Oh, you think you've done something, that's when the mountain eats you up."

Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Team USA will play Italy in the quarterfinals on Friday, February 13, at 3:10 p.m. ET, in what should be an easy win. Italy has over-performed by some accounts, beating France and Japan, both of whom are ranked higher internationally. However, a loss to Germany and a pounding from Sweden have brought them back down to earth, and they likely will not be a problem for the Americans.

ESPN's Emily Kaplan called Team USA a deep and dynamic team with an "extremely balanced attack."

With the Americans rolling all four offensive lines, the hockey insider wrote that the team's mix of fresher faces may be what is giving them an edge. Kaplan noted that Canada has 16 players returning from their 2022 Olympic team.

The two teams could still meet again, but it may have to wait until the finals as Canada's quarterfinal opponent is yet to be determined, and the bracket is not yet fleshed out; Canada still has to play Finland on Thursday.

If Team USA beats Italy, they would move on to the semifinals on February 16, with the bronze and gold medal games airing on February 19.

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Olympic skier who wrote 'F**k ICE' in snow now says he is victim of 'hate and vitriol'

Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy is shocked by the amount of backlash he is receiving.

Kenworthy, a silver medalist for the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, made a post last week showing his followers how to contact the Senate in order to complain about Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

'Maybe that's the price you pay for speaking up and using your platform.'

Kenworthy provided a sample script that his followers could use, which included, "Innocent people have been murdered, and enough is enough. We can't wait around while ICE continues to operate with unchecked power in our communities."

The hyperbolic narrative was just one part of Kenworthy's post, however, as the attached photo read, "F**k ICE," written in the snow. While it is not clear how it was written, or if it was a digital edit, the positioning of skis around the yellow text implied that it was made with urine.

On Monday, Kenworthy made a follow-up video explaining that while he now competes for Great Britain — stating he does so to honor his mother — he is still half American and loves the United States.

"I care about the U.S., and I care about what's happening there," the 34-year-old stated.

What followed, though, was the skier saying that the intense backlash he has faced from the post was likely a product of him "speaking up."

"A lot of the messages have been awful; people telling me to kill myself, threatening me, wishing that they'll get to see me blow my knee or break my neck during my event, calling me slurs. Like, it's insane," he continued. "And maybe that's the price you pay for speaking up and using your platform. And so maybe this video is just going to invite more hate and vitriol, but I think it's important to say what we feel and stand up for what we believe in and stand up to injustice."

At the same time, the Olympian said that everyone has the freedom to "love the U.S. and be proud to be an American" while still thinking "it can be better" and "improve."

Without ever mentioning the nature of his anti-ICE photo, Kenworthy went on to say that he does not support ICE and believes the agency is "absolutely evil and awful and terrifying."

This was followed by a bevy of claims, such as American citizens "have been murdered in the street, executed in the street, and the officers are essentially acting with, like, impunity because their identities are covered."

"There's no accountability. It's really scary," he continued, claiming ICE is "racially profiling people, rounding up black and brown folks, and kidnapping them, putting them in unmarked vehicles with no arrest warrant, no probable cause."

Kenworthy added, "They're being held without any sort of due process. It's crazy. It's scary."

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

The skier, born in Essex, England, concluded that the "majority" of those being apprehended by the federal agency are "good" and "hardworking people" who are "nonviolent and have no criminal history and just came to the U.S. seeking a better life."

Kenworthy described this as "literally the foundation story of the U.S."

The British-American will compete in the Men's Freeski Halfpipe qualification at the Winter Olympics on February 19, which begins at 4:30 a.m. ET.

The finals will air February 20 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

This is the same event as Hunter Hess, the American skier who recently walked back his comments regarding disagreements he has with U.S. policy. Hess said that "it's a little hard" to be representing the United States and that he had "mixed emotions" about it.

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Skier Hunter Hess changes tune after saying he has 'mixed emotions' about representing USA: 'I love my country'

American skier Hunter Hess now says the United States is a great country.

Hess, from Bend, Oregon, has seemingly responded to intense backlash he received for saying that "it's a little hard" to represented the United States at the Olympics.

'There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better.'

On Friday, Hess told reporters that he had "mixed emotions" about wearing the red, white, and blue, saying, "Right now, I think, um, it's a little hard. There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of and I think a lot of people aren't."

Hess said that instead he felt he was representing his friends, family, and things in the United States that "align with my moral values."

"Just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S.," he added.

These comments sparked huge backlash across the country; even the president took to his social media platform to call Hess a "real loser."

On Monday, Hess appeared to walk back his remarks in a post to his Instagram page.

"I love my country," the 27-year-old wrote alongside an American flag emoji.

"There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better. One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out," he continued.

Along with a picture of himself smiling, Hess also wrote in the caption that "the best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided we need that more than ever. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete."

"Thanks to everyone for their support," he finished.

The skier's response has already fallen flat for some.

"Wow pls shut the f**k up," boxer Jake Paul wrote on X. "From all true Americans[:] If you don’t want to represent this country go live somewhere else."

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brett Favre shared a statement from actor and writer David Kano that read, "If you don’t want to rep the USA, then give up your spot to someone who does."

Hess will compete in the men's freeski half-pipe qualification at the Winter Olympics on February 19, which begins at 4:30 a.m. ET.

The finals will air February 20 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

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Team USA players interrogated by woke Canadian media over Trump call — 'Why would you laugh?'

Hockey Loss Should Awaken Canada To Its Long-Running Anti-American Decline

Trump personally congratulates Olympic men's hockey team, tells them he would be 'impeached' if he doesn't do THIS

Team USA's amazing gold-medal gesture you may have missed

Stiff Competition

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Olympic skier who wrote 'F**k ICE' in snow now says he is victim of 'hate and vitriol'

Skier Hunter Hess changes tune after saying he has 'mixed emotions' about representing USA: 'I love my country'

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