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New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill faced an unfriendly reception at the Prudential Center on Wednesday, where she was met with boos from fans attending a New Jersey Devils hockey game.
The event celebrated the triumphant return of Jack Hughes, the Team USA Olympic hero who clinched the winning goal against Canada in the recent gold medal game. This marked Hughes’s first NHL appearance since his Olympic victory.
Governor Sherrill was present to honor Hughes and other Olympians as they returned to the U.S. ice. However, when the public address announcer introduced her for the ceremonial puck drop, the Newark audience responded with a chorus of boos directed at her and her husband, Jason Hedberg.
Despite the chilly reception, Sherrill later took to social media to share photos of herself alongside Hughes and other players, celebrating their Olympic success. Her post was met with ridicule, as many online commentators highlighted the intensity of the crowd’s disapproval.
“You managed to somehow get booed loudly during the most festive thing at the Rock ever,” one user on the platform X remarked.
Another user wrote, “Didn’t everyone boo you?”
Sherrill has been a target of criticism from patriotic Americans dating back to her 2025 campaign, when it was revealed she was kept from participating in her Naval Academy commencement due to disciplinary action involving midshipmen stealing test answers in a particularly challenging electrical engineering course required for all non-engineering majors.
Sherill downplayed her involvement, saying, “I didn’t turn in some of my classmates, so I didn’t walk but graduated and was commissioned as an officer in the US Navy, serving for nearly ten years with the highest level of distinction and honor.”
Just this week, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against New Jersey and Sherrill, accusing the state of expanding its sanctuary policies and obstructing federal immigration enforcement through a new executive order.
Still, Sherill’s presence didn’t stop anyone at the Prudential Center from celebrating Hughes and company on Wednesday.
Prior to the puck drop against the Buffalo Sabres, the Devils honored all of their Olympians from 2026, including those who represented foreign nations. No one received a warmer reception from the crowd than Hughes, as fans chanted “U-S-A!”
Hughes nearly broke down in tears while 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,” Hughes said to the crowd. “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.
“From the bottom of my heart, all of my teammates, USA teammates, we just want to thank you guys for all the love and support. We feel it.”