US hockey star Hilary Knight introduces comedy on SNL featuring women, men’s Olympic champions
Listen to this article
Average 4 minutes
The audio version of this article was created by AI-based technology. It can be mispronounced. We are working with our partners to continuously review and improve the results.
Follow the Winter OlympicsPersonalize Your Feed
This time it was Hilary Knight’s turn to provide the big laughs, with help from Saturday Night Live writers, after a week’s dust-up involving the gold medal-winning United States men’s and women’s hockey teams.
Knight, the U.S. women’s captain, along with teammate Megan Keller and men’s teammates Jack and Quinn Hughes, were stunned at the moment. Hot Competition Connor Storrie’s opening monologue star on SNL Saturday night.
With the Hughes brothers already on stage alongside Storrie, Knight and Keller joined them and sang loud and long. The four players were wearing USA jerseys with their gold medals hanging around their necks.
Knight opened by saying: “It was going to be just us, but we thought we’d invite the boys.”
The speech clearly pointed to the controversy that erupted when the men received a phone call to congratulate them from President Donald Trump following their 2-1 overtime victory against Canada on Sunday at the Milano-Cortina Games.
Speaking to the delegation via speakerphone, Trump invited men to his state of the nation address, before adding that he would have to invite women as well. Later, the president said that if he doesn’t invite these women, he risks being fired, which led the players to laugh at the speech, which many saw as sexist.
Knight on Wednesday called the joke “offensive and unfortunate.”
Many men said that they were laughing in celebration. Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman admitted they “should have reacted differently” to Trump’s comments.
Team USA women’s hockey players were asked on Wednesday if they felt “disrespected or belittled in any way” by Donald Trump’s phone call to the men’s team, with the players laughing when the US president joked that he should invite the women’s team to the White House. Defender Caroline Harvey said the call was ‘not our focus’ and they were delighted to bring home Olympic gold.
The American women, who also beat Canada 2-1 in overtime three days ago, politely declined Trump’s invitation due to travel plans. The players left for North America late Monday evening, after the men traveled on a chartered plane paid for by the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association.
Jack Hughes scored an extra time goal for the men.
Keller scored an overtime goal for the women, and Knight tied the game in the final minutes of regulation.
Knight plays for the Seattle Torrent of the PWHL, and made the trip to New York City one day after being placed on long-term injured reserve. Keller, who plays for Boston, flew to New York hours after playing in the Fleet’s 3-2 win in Ottawa earlier in the day.
Megan Keller scored 4:07 into overtime, as the United States beat Canada 2-1 to win the women’s hockey gold medal.
Jack Hughes plays for the NHL New Jersey Devils, and Quinn for the Minnesota Wild.
Knight delivered another punchline after Quinn Hughes said men last won gold 46 years ago at the 1980 Lake Placid Games.
Knight followed up with the women’s last win in 2018.
Laughing, Jack Hughes replied, “good burn,” before turning to Storrie and saying: “These gold medals aren’t just for us, they’re for all hockey fans, and for you.”
When Storrie asked if he could try one of the medals, all four players turned and said, “No.”
Hot Competition has become a hit following its first season on HBO Max. Adapted from Rachel Reid’s novel published in 2019, it features a plot revolving around a gay hockey romance where two players from opposing teams form a secret, long-term relationship.
