Jason Kelce rants about officiating during USA vs. Canada women’s hockey gold medal game, sparking debate among fans over controversial calls
Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce expressed frustration with the officiating during the USA vs. Canada women's hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics last week. He attended the game with his brother Travis Kelce, where Team USA secured a 2-1 overtime victory. Kelce voiced his strong opinions on the referees' performance on the latest episode of the "New Heights" podcast.
The highly anticipated matchup between the USA and Canada delivered significant tension, a hallmark of this intense rivalry. Canada initially took a 1-0 lead and maintained it for a considerable portion of the game. The American team continued to press for an equalizer. The decisive moment came in overtime when Megan Keller scored the game-winning goal, slipping the puck under the opposing goalie's blocker.
This goal ignited fervent celebrations within the arena. However, even before Keller's winning goal, Jason Kelce felt that crucial calls had been missed by the officials.
Speaking on the "New Heights" podcast, Jason Kelce did not hold back his thoughts on the game's officiating and overall flow.
“We were having a lot of fun. Man, it was Canada. Got out to the quick lead, and it made it very stressful. Dude, the refs in that game, I don’t know what the f-ck they were doing,” Jason said on the New Heights podcast while reacting to the Olympic final.
He provided further context immediately after commending Keller's decisive goal.
“And that was after Megan Keller's goal, a little dangle to the backhand underneath the blocker. So, anyway, yeah, it was an electric game,” he said during the same episode.
Jason Kelce's dissatisfaction stemmed from what he perceived as confusing calls during critical junctures of the game, particularly when the momentum was shifting between the two teams. In closely contested Olympic finals, every whistle carries significant weight, and he felt the standard of officiating lacked consistency.
Despite his officiating concerns, the overall outcome was a triumph for Team USA. The women's hockey team clinched the gold medal on February 20. Two days later, the U.S. men's team also defeated Canada to claim their gold medal on February 22, 2026. This remarkable sweep of both gold medals in hockey further amplified the sense of national pride.
Jason Kelce also extended his praise to both the men's and women's U.S. hockey teams for their achievements.
“I mean, dude, we’re men’s and women’s gold medalists. Best country on the planet in hockey,” he said.
The Kelce brothers, who hail from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, specifically acknowledged defender Laila Edwards, a hometown athlete. Travis Kelce shared in the excitement, with both brothers cheering enthusiastically from the stands and later publicly commending the players' performances. The Olympic stage provided a compelling narrative of drama, fierce rivalry, and ultimate redemption. Jason Kelce was pleased with the final result, though he expressed a desire for more consistent officiating in a game of such immense importance.