- WINTER OLYMPICS The 'Penisgate' that puts the credibility of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games in check
- WINTER OLYMPICS Donald Trump set to visit Winter Olympics for special event despite criticism from US athletes
Team USA's men's ice hockey team has been one of the standout performers at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
But social media attention this week has shifted from their goalscoring prowess to what many fans are calling an unnecessary postgame gesture.
The Americans stormed through round robin play with three decisive victories, finishing with a +11 goal differential and securing the No 2 seed behind Team Canada.
On the ice, their performances have been sharp, disciplined and at times overwhelming for opponents. Off the ice, however, a brief moment after Saturday's win over Denmark has sparked debate.
A video shared by X user @unsensrd showed a side-by-side comparison of the American and Canadian teams exiting the ice following their respective round robin games.
A controversial exit from the ice
In the clip, several American players appeared to head directly toward the locker room without acknowledging fans in attendance.
In contrast, members of Team Canada could be seen saluting and engaging with supporters before leaving the rink.
The comparison quickly gained traction online. Critics accused the American squad of lacking sportsmanship, with some questioning why the players did not take a moment to recognise the crowd.
"Because we are not jerks!!" a fan said. Another wrote: "American classlessness on display."
Not everyone agreed with the criticism. Some pointed out that players may have been focused on recovery, team meetings or simply following routine.
Others argued that short clips rarely provide full context, especially during the intensity of Olympic competition.
History and pressure add weight to the moment
For Team USA, expectations are particularly high.
The Americans have not won Olympic gold in men's ice hockey since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team stunned the heavily favoured Soviet Union in one of the most iconic moments in sports history.
Since then, they have come close, losing gold medal games to Canada in both 2002 and 2010.
This year's roster has been widely described as one of the deepest the United States has ever assembled in best-on-best competition.
Many observers believe the talent level rivals last year's group that narrowly fell to Canada in overtime during the 4 Nations Face Off. The margin between the two North American rivals remains razor thin.
The Americans now turn their focus to the knockout stage, where they await the winner of Sweden versus Latvia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.