The victory lap for America’s Olympic hockey champions quietly shed politics from the celebration

NEW YORK (AP) — It took until noon on Saturday, less than 12 hours before showtime, for the script to arrive.

The opening monologue for “Saturday Night Live,” of all things, was about to become a turning point in a national celebration that had somehow gone sideways in the week after the U.S. won Olympic gold in men’s and women’s hockey. Instead of basking in the glory of twice beating rival Canada in overtime, players like Hilary Knight and Megan Keller on the women’s side and Jack and Quinn Hughes on the men’s side were fielding questions about politics and sexism.

Executive producer Lorne Michaels told the players the show was going to have some fun with the situation.

President Donald Trump joking on a call with the men that he'd get impeached if he didn't also invite the women to the White House drew laughter from some of the players and plenty of criticism. Their appearance at the State of the Union address — after the women's team declined for logistical reasons — also derailed the headlines and conversation further into politics.