Jon Stewart Reflects on a Unusual Year for Hockey and Questions Kash Patel’s Olympic Celebration Choices
As Team USA marks its first men’s hockey victory in nearly 50 years, comedian Jon Stewart explored the sport’s evolving cultural relevance.
During a recent episode of The Daily Show, Stewart commented on what he described as a “super weird year” for hockey amid the success of the Heated Rivalry series and the USA’s triumph over Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, a victory that has been embraced by some as a nationalist symbol.
“First of all, what a super weird year hockey is having,” he stated in his monologue. “In four months, to go from nobody gives a sh*t about hockey, to, ‘well, I like to watch them f*ck,’ to, ‘only hockey can save us from an estro-genetic future.’”
Commenting on Team USA’s gold medal win, Stewart remarked, “It was so unifying! There is nothing that can take away from the joyous moment as all Americans celebrate—wait, what the f*ck?! Is that FBI Director Kash Patel? And why are they putting a medal around the neck of [Patel]? Is Kash Patel a Make-a-Wish man? Kid? Is that what this is? Listen, I’m not trying to diminish his condition. There is currently no cure for ‘Crazy Eyes.’”
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On Sunday, Jack Hughes led the USA team to a narrow 2-1 victory, scoring the winning goal in overtime. This win marks Team USA’s first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980, when they defeated Finland.
Hockey’s popularity has surged, particularly due to Jacob Tierney’s Heated Rivalry, an HBO Max series that has captivated audiences with its adaptation of Rachel Reid’s homoerotic hockey novels, Game Changer.
While the show resonates particularly with female and LGBTQ viewers, its success has contributed to tangible growth in the sport, including a recent spike in NHL ticket sales and a new trend on TikTok, where hockey rinks are being dubbed “boy aquariums.”
With Heated Rivalry renewed for a second season, star François Arnaud has urged the NHL to increase its support for the LGBTQ community.
