Senators Stars to Visit White House After Historic Olympic Victory
Following their dramatic gold medal triumph at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk and top defenseman Jake Sanderson are embarking on a celebratory tour that includes a prestigious visit to the White House in Washington, D.C. The American hockey heroes secured the championship with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Team Canada on Sunday, marking a significant moment in international sports.
From Milan to Miami to Washington
The celebration itinerary for the United States men's hockey team has been extensive and unexpected. After departing Milan, the team initially found themselves rerouted to Miami Beach due to severe storms along the East Coast. There, they attended a special celebration party at E11leven Miami, a venue that proudly bills itself as "the No. 1 club in the USA" and ranks sixth internationally according to the Global Nightlife Association.
From Florida, the players are now scheduled to travel to the nation's capital. Both Tkachuk and Sanderson have received a formal invitation to attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday night alongside their teammates. During a congratulatory phone call organized by FBI director Kash Patel, President Trump extended the invitation and suggested the possibility of a White House visit on Wednesday, though those plans remain tentative.
Presidential Recognition and Military Transport
In a remarkable gesture, President Trump offered to arrange military transportation to bring the team from Miami to Washington for the State of the Union address. The presidential call, which lasted just over two minutes, featured Trump praising the team's "unbelievable" performance against Canada and noting the historic nature of their victory.
"I just told my people two minutes ago, I didn't know they'd be calling," Trump said during the conversation. "I said we're giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night, I could send a military plane or something, but if you would like to, it's the coolest night, it's the biggest..."
The president also mentioned extending an invitation to the women's gold medal team, indicating broader recognition for American Olympic success across multiple sports disciplines.
Impact on Senators Schedule and Team Dynamics
The extended celebration means Tkachuk and Sanderson will not rejoin their NHL team until just hours before the Ottawa Senators face off against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night. Both players are expected to participate in Thursday's morning skate and will be available for the game against Detroit.
Interestingly, Detroit's Dylan Larkin was also a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. team, meaning he will likely reunite with his Olympic teammates in an NHL context shortly after their Washington visit. Senators coach Travis Green confirmed on Monday that both Tkachuk and Sanderson will play against the Red Wings despite the compressed timeline.
While most Senators players enjoyed time off before returning to practice last Tuesday, the Olympians have remained in competitive hockey mode throughout the Olympic tournament and subsequent celebrations. The only other Senators who didn't have extended breaks were Tim Stutzle, Lars Eller, and Nikolas Matinpalo, who had different international commitments or recovery schedules.
Return to Canadian Soil and Professional Responsibilities
Following their Washington visit, Tkachuk and Sanderson are scheduled to return to Ottawa on Wednesday, giving them just one day to adjust before returning to NHL action. Their delayed return creates a unique situation where Olympic celebration intersects directly with professional hockey responsibilities.
The Senators organization and fans will be watching closely as their star players transition from international glory back to the regular season grind, carrying with them not just gold medals but memories of presidential recognition and national celebration.
