Quinn Hughes' rumoured SNL cameo with Connor Storrie sparks backlash over Trump joke fallout

The rumored appearance of Team USA hockey star Quinn Hughes on Saturday Night Live alongside Heated Rivalry actor Connor Storrie has sparked heated reactions online, with many fans voicing criticism tied to a recent controversy involving the U.S. men’s hockey team and President Donald Trump.

According to reports, the backlash stems from a viral locker-room call in which Trump congratulated the men’s team following their gold medal win and joked that he would also need to invite the women’s team — who had also won gold — or risk being impeached. During the call, several players, including Hughes, appeared to laugh along, a moment that quickly ignited criticism online and accusations of dismissing the women’s team’s achievements.

The controversy has lingered in the days since, with fans now connecting it to Hughes’ rumored television appearance. Online reactions suggest that some viewers feel his participation in Storrie’s upcoming SNL episode is ill-timed, especially given the scrutiny surrounding the team’s response to the president’s remarks.

The situation has become particularly sensitive because the women’s team had also just secured gold, making the joke and the reaction a flashpoint for broader conversations about respect and recognition in women’s sports.

Fans have also remarked that the fanbase of Storrie and Heated Rivalry is majorly based on women and so the inclusion of Hughes is a disrespect to the Ilya Rozanov actor, his fanbase and what the show stood for.

Some even argue that this move will "ruin" and "tarnish" what's supposed to be a big career moment for Storrie. They also believe that if Hughes is being invited for Storrie's SNL debut then someone from the womens hockey team should be there as well because they won the gold medal at the Olympics as well. 

While neither Hughes nor the show has officially confirmed the cameo, the speculation alone has fueled debate among fans of both hockey and Heated Rivalry, the series that helped launch Storrie’s rising profile.