New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill found out the hard way that hockey fans show up for goals and glory, not political cameos.
Sherrill was at the Prudential Center on Wednesday night to take part in the ceremonial puck drop welcoming Team USA star Jack Hughes back to Newark after his gold medal performance against Canada. It should have been a feel good, patriotic moment. Instead, when the public address announcer introduced the governor, the arena erupted in loud, sustained boos.
🚨 LMAO! Patriots at tonight’s NJ Devils game RELENTLESSLY BOOED Democrat Gov. Mikie Sherrill moments after they went WILD for Team USA player Jack Hughes
Americans are REBUKING Democrats for the cold shoulder they gave Team USA this week.
🇺🇸🔥
pic.twitter.com/XjcD3uObrx— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 26, 2026
The jeers did not stop there. Her husband, Jason Hedberg, also heard it from the crowd. Thousands of fans packed the arena to celebrate Hughes and the New Jersey Devils, not to applaud elected officials. The message from the stands was unmistakable.
The night itself was about Hughes. It was his first NHL appearance since scoring the decisive goal in Sunday’s gold medal game. Before puck drop, the Devils honored their Olympians, including players who represented other countries. But the loudest cheers were reserved for Hughes. Chants of “U S A” echoed through the building as the American flag waved on the jumbotron.
Hughes appeared emotional when addressing the crowd. “I’m so proud, and I’m so happy that the men’s and women’s USA hockey teams brought gold medals back to the United States of America,” he said. “You guys are making me emotional, but I’m so proud to represent the New Jersey Devils organization. And I’m so, so proud to represent the great state of New Jersey, so proud.”
That pride did not seem to extend to the governor standing a few feet away.
Sherrill later posted photos from the ceremony on social media. The reaction was swift. “You managed to somehow get booed loudly during the most festive thing at the Rock ever,” one user wrote. Another asked bluntly, “Didn’t everyone boo you?”
Sherrill has faced criticism from conservatives since her 2025 campaign, when reports resurfaced about her not participating in her Naval Academy commencement due to disciplinary action tied to a cheating scandal. She has defended her record, stating she graduated, was commissioned as a Navy officer, and served nearly a decade.
More recently, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against New Jersey and Sherrill over expanded sanctuary policies and an executive order that federal officials argue obstructs immigration enforcement.
All of that political baggage followed her onto the ice.
Hockey arenas are not campaign rallies. Fans came to celebrate a gold medal, chant for their team, and soak in a rare moment of national pride. They made it clear their cheers were for the players who brought home gold, not the politicians sharing the spotlight.
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