Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Kathryn Tappen talks U.S. men hockey team's historic gold medal victory

Episode Date: February 23, 2026

Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote were joined by NBC reporter Kathryn Tappen to reflect on the USA men's hockey team winning the gold medal with a 2-1 overtime win against rival Canada on Sunday at the Winter Olympics.

Let's go to our hotline now. Is she in Milan? Is she on a plane? We talked to Eddie Olcheck on a plane earlier today on the score. Catherine Tappen, thank you so much for joining us. Well, thank you guys. Yeah, Edzo ended up with dinner, you know, last night with him, and he found a way to get out of Milan and somehow reroute through Atlanta to Chicago to

L.A., but I got, quote, unquote, stuck in Milan for the day, and I'm very happy about it. So that's where I'm on right now and happy to talk to you guys. How are you guys doing? We're great. Thank you for spending your quote stuck day and your time with us. We played your interview with Jack Hughes, and it was a wonderful conversation. What was it like to be a part of that moment in observing this on the ice? Yeah, well, I think just, you know, the biggest picture perspective I have is just, you know,

the magnitude of that interview and the importance of what Jack said. I think, you know, the Olympics every four years for winter games, every, you know, every two years we get in Olympics, but every four years we get the winter of the summer. it finds a way to kind of galvanize a country, right? It finds a way to bring pride back to our nation and, you know, all politics aside and everything else that the world is going through. It's just you cheer for your country, you cheer for these athletes. And Jack said that.

I mean, at the end of the day, like this was a massive win for America, for American hockey. And, you know, and then go back a couple days to the women's team, bringing home gold as well. And I just think that when he was saying the things he was saying, The most important thing for me in that moment in processing his answers was, you know, lead him to the next most important thing he's going to say. So what is that, you know?

And I think everything he said was so poignant and so strong. And it's exactly what all of them felt in that locker room. And the importance of this event, the importance of winning a gold medal again, I mean, it had only been done twice in the history of American hockey. These are guys that grew up in the ranks of American hockey, playing at the youth level, playing at the collegiate level. And you're always the little brother to Canada. And it's like they just can't shake that.

And now they did. And it was just, I mean, the fact that it was Jack and he had just gotten his teeth knocked out and they get the five on three penalty. And then he commits a penalty. So he goes to the box and they got to kill it off. It's like, I mean, the emotions of just that five on three alone. And to see him come off the ice and score the game winner, it was just, and you couldn't have scripted it better. You really couldn't it. So and so listening to him and what he had to say and his reaction with his teeth, you know, his whole mouth bleeding right.

in front of me. I just was like, oh my gosh, this is incredible. This is just incredible. Catherine, just such a wonderful interview, as Lila said, and I was struck by what he talked about with the way he had to single out Connor Hallibuck as to let people know like, this is the dude. Like, I know

I scored a goal, but this is the dude. What did you make of his performance on that stage in that moment? Because that man survived to an extent. Yeah. That's a great word for it. Survive. 41 saves, and by the way, like, insane saved, the one paddle save that I hope you asked Edzo about

because he caught it better than anybody. But, I mean, the thing with Connor Hellebuck is that he has had so much criticism in big games, right? He's got all the Vezan as he needs. He's got the NHL and BP. He's arguably the best goalie in the National Hockey League right now. And he, but yet the Winnipeg Jets, when they get to the playoffs, for whatever reason, cumulatively, they cannot win. big games. And so for Connor to win that way and to put on the performance, and not

just yesterday, guys, I mean, the way he performed against Sweden, the way he won earlier rounds, I mean, Lopio was no easy cakewalk for the Americans in their first game. So I just think, like, what you saw from him, I was so happy for him. And he was the difference maker for Team USA. I'm

very bummed. He didn't get the tournament MVP because I just think he deserved it. But he doesn't even need it. I actually talked to him afterwards. After I did the Jack interview, I was the mix zone and I grabbed a couple of American players and Connor was obviously one of them and I just said like you've listened to the critics over the years yet what does this win tell them and he goes yeah they can write all they want I don't care you know and and the reality is is that he was if he

didn't perform the way he did in crucial situations against a Canadian team that had the best star power of offensive weapons on the ice they wouldn't have won that game yesterday team USA they just wouldn't have. So it's awesome. I actually loved when the national anthem was being sung and they panned to Connor Hallibuck and he had the biggest smile in the world. Like I don't think we've seen him smile that big ever. It almost was like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. He was proud. He was proud as an American. He was probably relieved that he won a massive game like that to get a gold medal. And, you know, this is a guy that was the 13th goalie taken in the draft the year he was taken 13. Like that's like those are like Tom Brady numbers when he was drafted. Everyone else

overlooked him. And he just quietly goes about his business and wins the wins big. So I'm so happy for him. To your point back about Jack's interview, I'm very glad that Jack acknowledged him. I would have him there, but I didn't have to. He went right to Connor. Catherine, could you describe what the crowd was like there in terms of Canada fans versus USA fans? And I felt like sometimes I thought I heard a chant, but it was almost like both sides were chanting so it canceled each other. How can you describe what you heard or what you felt throughout that entire game? Yeah, it was pretty even, I'd say.

I think, you know, I just think that it was very, there's a ton of American and Canadian fans here in Milan, even today. So there's obviously a big blizzard back east, which is why I'm still here, but, you know, a lot of people can't get back. So I've finally, for the first time in 24 days of being here, been able to kind of walk about the city and, you know, see some really cool sites. And so I still see a lot of Americans hanging around and a lot of Canadian people as well. And I just think that it was an easy trip to make.

It was a massive game before you even knew who was in the gold medal. I think everyone just hoped it was going to be USA Canada with NHL players for the first time in 12 years. So people came and they participated and they cheered. And so the crowd was awesome. I mean, you know, the music they play in the venue is great. It's a smaller venue. So it's not quite the size of a United Center, say, but it's a little bit more intimate. The crowds, I found it to be a pretty steep, you know, where the fans are, where the actual seats are.

So they're kind of like above the ice, which is really awesome. And you felt like you were on top of the play. So, but it was very balanced yesterday. I mean, as loud as they cheered for Canada, they cheered equally as loud for the United States. And, I mean, I wouldn't say that the crowd swayed either team either way because it was pretty, pretty well divided. More so than really any other NHL game. Like, you think about a Stanley Cup final. It's always going to be one way or the other for the home team.

this was split down the middle, which was unique. And the whole experience, the entire Olympics was just unique in so many ways. We're talking to Catherine Tapp and the ringside reporter for NBC's broadcast of the Olympic Games, and that included Team USA's gold medal win. And it was an emotional moment. I know they showed the Grudrow family in the stands sitting and watching, and then to see when the late Johnny Grudeau's children were brought out onto the ice and they had his sweater there as well.

What was that like? just that moment and then also, you know, in talking to the Goodrow family and knowing what he meant to Team USA as well. Yeah, I mean, I just think that, you know, the entire hockey world came together when that horrific tragedy happened with Johnny and Matthew and it has since, you know, never forgotten the memory of both players. And I think that alone is a great testament to what these men represent and what they care about, right? I mean, the play on the ice is one thing, but they care more about Meredith Goddrow and her family and, you know, Ghee and his mom and dad,

and they want to make sure that Johnny's memory is always on the forefront of everyone's mind and Matthew. And so the day before the gold medal game, I was at Team USA's practice and, you know, Matthew Kachuk is just one of the best players on and off the ice, and he's great. And I did a quick on camera with him, a couple questions that primetime wanted. And then after I put the microphone and I said, hey, Matthew, one second. And I said, hey, just real quick, you know, I haven't talked to you yet about honoring Johnny. And I know you guys have his jersey in the locker room.

And I had told the story two games prior because I had spoken to Zach Wrenski, who was really close with him, obviously playing in Columbus for so many years. But I wanted Matthew's perspective. And I said, can you just give me some insight on what the guys are playing for tomorrow and having his jersey there? And he looked at me and he goes, well, you know it's Johnny Jr.'s birthday tomorrow. Johnny Jr.'s birthday is tomorrow, the gold medal game. And I literally felt the tears.

Like I teared up. It was, I welded up. It was, I couldn't believe, you know, the, the significance of that, the fact that they were playing, you know, 46 years to the day of the miracle on ice. Like, it just all. And then he looked at me. He goes, things are starting to rely on, aren't they? And I went, oh, my God.

Like, I mean, you couldn't, you couldn't have a dry eye when he told you that. And so we knew that going into the game. And I think I, I did a story tell about that during the game. The family. And as wonderful it is as it is, as it is that they're. honoring him and that they're there in attendance and that they were able to be here this final weekend to watch Team USA win their final two games. It's incredibly difficult for them as well. I mean, think about the family. Like, Johnny should be on the ice with them and sorry,

you're hearing, not sorry, but you're hearing the beautiful church bells here in Milan that go off. It's just a wonderful culture here in Italy. But separately, you know, I just think that it's hard on the family, right? As much as you honor Johnny and you want to make sure you keep his memory alive, they have to participate in this. They have to face it publicly. that's very, very hard. And so I give them a lot of credit and having them in attendance was great. And then bringing them on the ice when Matthew and Zach Wrencky went out and got the kids in the stands. I mean, there wasn't a dry eye in the building on the broadcast. And it was spectacular. And I do believe, like, I do believe that there was something special that that team had yesterday and they were going to win that game.

And Johnny had a lot to do with it. Well, Catherine, thank you so much for joining us and helping us relive those moments and also bringing the interviews to live. You guys did a wonderful job all Olympic Games. Thank you. I appreciate that. It's great to be with you guys. I love the city of Chicago. Love my time there when I get to cover events.

So keep up the great work. And thanks for calling in. I appreciate it. Thanks, Catherine. Enjoy a cappuccino if it's not too late in the day. Catherine, thanks so much. Thank you. That is Catherine Tappan,

who is the Rinkside reporter for the Olympic Games alongside Kenny Albert and Eddie Oldcheck. Great stuff. And Brian Boucher, that's a gold medal crew. Boucher was wearing the vest between the benches. That's not an easy place to be. There was team vests. Yeah, they were all vested up.

I was heavily invested in the outcome. That's all I got. Yeah, well, you and Haw. Yeah, I see what you did there. He just did a haul. He did Haw. Or does Haw do marshals? I don't know.

The both of you with your puns. Dustin is always vested. Yeah, he is the original. He was vested before it was cool to be vested. so Dustin is won. He's won the vest game. I didn't know if any more vest puns were going to happen. No, I see when you were late to like.

By the way, put Catherine down on the list of she loves Chicago. We're the Hangout show. We got an extra mic here when she's in town. Catherine, right here. Well, she used to report Notre Dame, too, for NBC. So I don't know if she ended up staying here. Probably not.

Probably not. Probably stand there, but still. We love Catherine Tappen in the NBC broadcast career, and that was great to talk to her as, as well. Coming up next year on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104 through the score we're a little bit late to hang with us. Moises by Astero's finally

got to spring training in Mesa. Now we've got to figure out where everybody goes, including Moises so that's next.