USA Hockey Stars Turn ‘Controversy’ Into Comedy on Saturday Night Live [WATCH]

U.S. women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight drew laughs on “Saturday Night Live” following a weeklong controversy involving the United States’ gold medal-winning Olympic hockey teams.

Knight appeared alongside teammate Megan Keller and brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes during the opening monologue of “Heated Rivalry” star Connor Storrie on Saturday night’s episode of “SNL.”

The Hughes brothers were already on stage with Storrie when Knight and Keller joined them to a loud and lengthy ovation.

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All four players wore USA jerseys with their Olympic gold medals around their necks.

Knight opened the exchange with a line that referenced the recent debate surrounding the teams.

“It was going to be just us, but we thought we’d invite the guys, too.”

Her remark pointed to criticism that followed a congratulatory phone call from President Trump to the U.S. men’s team after its 2-1 overtime victory against Canada on Sunday at the Milan Cortina Games.

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During the call, Trump invited the men to his State of the Union address. He then added that he would also need to invite the women’s team.

The president later said that if he did not extend the invitation to the women, he would risk being impeached. Several players were heard laughing at the comment, which some viewers described as sexist.

Knight addressed the issue earlier in the week, calling the joke “distasteful and unfortunate.”

Members of the men’s team later said their reaction came in the midst of celebration. Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman acknowledged the players “should have reacted differently” to Trump’s remarks.

The U.S. women’s team also defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime, doing so three days before the men’s victory. The women declined the invitation to attend the State of the Union, citing travel plans.

After the Games, the women traveled commercially and returned to North America late Monday evening. The men flew home earlier on a charter flight funded by the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association.

Jack Hughes scored the overtime winner for the men’s team. For the women, Keller netted the overtime goal, while Knight tied the game in the final minutes of regulation.

Knight plays for the PWHL’s Seattle Torrent and traveled to New York City a day after being placed on long-term injured reserve.

Keller, who plays for Boston, went to New York just hours after competing in the Fleet’s 3-2 shootout victory over Ottawa earlier that day.

Jack Hughes plays for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, while Quinn Hughes skates for the Minnesota Wild.

During the “SNL” appearance, Quinn Hughes noted that the last time the U.S. men won Olympic gold was 46 years ago at the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

Knight followed by noting that the women last won gold in 2018.

Jack Hughes laughed and said, “nice burn,” before turning toward Storrie and adding, “These gold medals aren’t just for us, they’re for all hockey fans, yours’ too.”

When Storrie asked if he could try on one of the medals, all four players turned and replied in unison, “No.”

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