US Olympic Hockey Team Strip Club Jaunt
- Funny
- Offensive
Star Spangled Banger
February 24th, 2026 – In the wake of their historic gold medal win at the 2026 Winter Olympics, members of the United States men’s national ice hockey team were photographed and filmed singing the U.S. national anthem inside the popular Miami venue E11EVEN — a nightclub that also operates as a strip club by many accounts. Videos shared widely across social platforms show players and clubgoers belting out The Star-Spangled Banner together during a late-night celebration on Feb. 23, 2026.
The trip to Miami followed the squad’s dramatic 2-1 overtime win against Canada in the Milano Cortina Olympic final, securing the country’s first men’s hockey gold medal since 1980. After arriving from Italy, players enjoyed a high-profile victory lap that included an upscale dinner and a party at E11EVEN, where, according to multiple reports, more than 2,000 people were present.
During the festivities, players — wearing their Olympic gold medals — led patrons in singing The Star-Spangled Banner. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck reportedly grabbed a microphone to thank fans and lead chants of “U-S-A!,” and teammate Matthew Tkachuk playfully dubbed Hellebuyck “the savior and secretary of defense” during the celebration.
The scene — taking place in a venue that combines a nightclub atmosphere with elements of adult entertainment — immediately became a talking point online. Some commentators celebrated the moment as an exuberant display of patriotism and camaraderie following a long pursuit of Olympic gold. Others questioned the optics of singing the national anthem in a setting many describe as a strip club, suggesting it detracted from the seriousness traditionally associated with The Star-Spangled Banner. Social media threads show a wide range of reactions from fans and hockey observers, with some praising the team for expressing pride and others critiquing the choice of venue.
The celebration also drew political attention: President Donald Trump extended an invitation to the team for the upcoming State of the Union address, which several players indicated in interviews they planned to attend.
For broader context on the team’s victory celebrations and how they reflect wider cultural conversations about patriotism, see this report on how patriotic songs like Free Bird have become intertwined with Team USA’s identity at the 2026 Olympics.