The Americans, represented by their formidable women’s hockey team, garnered attention in Milan during a match against Czechia on Thursday. The enthusiastic crowd at Rho Arena hinted that the reception for the U.S. team at these Olympics might be warmer than anticipated.
Speculation had circulated that U.S. athletes could face a hostile environment at the upcoming opening ceremony on Friday, due to concerns over President Donald Trump’s trade policies, territorial ambitions, and local discontent over the deployment of ICE agents in Italy. However, Thursday’s American debut seemed to dampen those concerns.
Although national anthems are not played before Olympic events, the U.S. women received cheers from American spectators and silence from others as they hit the ice for warmups. Midway through the game, Secret Service agents escorted Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reserved seats, accompanied by Usha Vance, their children, Tilman Fertitta (the U.S. ambassador to Italy), and former U.S. Olympic hockey players Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando.
Despite some murmurs from the crowd, the players remained focused on the game, oblivious to the notable attendees. Following a 5-1 victory for the U.S., Coach John Wroblewski expressed excitement about the government’s support for the team.
While Vance and Rubio missed a grand entrance, they were present to witness the opening goal in the first period. The crowd’s reception remained relatively subdued, prompting relief from U.S. captain Hilary Knight. The vice-president’s applause during the game’s key moments was met with a similar response from the audience.
As the game concluded, the crowd bid farewell after a rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.” Looking ahead, Canada anticipates a challenging matchup against their rivals, with concerns arising from Finland’s norovirus outbreak potentially affecting the tournament.
The Americans will press on in their pursuit of success at the Olympics, with plans for Vance and Rubio to attend the upcoming ceremonies to support the women’s hockey team. The world now awaits the unfolding events and the teams’ performances.