Oshie for 2016

The Internet on Saturday morning erupted in praise for U.S. hockey player T.J. Oshie after he scored in a shootout competition to beat Russia in the Olympics.

Journalists, pundits and politicians lauded the 27-year-old forward’s performance before a crowd of more than 11,000 people at the Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi, Russia.

{mosads}Onetime presidential contender and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), now the head of the Financial Services Roundtable, said that it was a “proud day for USA hockey.”

#Oshie!!! Proud day for USA hockey!! Simply fabulous. Russian penalties key.

— Tim Pawlenty (@TimPawlenty) February 15, 2014

Oshie was born in Everett, Wash., but grew up in Warroad, Minn.

TJ #Oshie played H.S. hockey in #Warroad, Minnesota. The North Star State implodes Putin’s plan. I love it!

— Tim Pawlenty (@TimPawlenty) February 15, 2014

Former Slate journalist Matt Yglesias jokingly suggested that the St. Louis Blues forward ought to run for the White House.

Oshie 2016

— Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 15, 2014

Addisu Demissie, the former campaign manager for Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and former political director of Barack Obama’s Organizing for America effort, had similar thoughts.

Tj oshie for president.

— Addisu Demissie (@ASDem) February 15, 2014

Clinton/Oshie ’16

— Addisu Demissie (@ASDem) February 15, 2014

Shortly after the shootout ended, the player’s Wikipedia page was edited to read: “Oshie is a [sic] American Hero.”

Regulation time in the U.S.-Russia faceoff ended in a 2-2 tie, sending the match to overtime. When neither team managed to score, players were sent to a shootout.

Oshie was brought on the national Olympic team in part because of his skills during shootouts, and Saturday’s game showed that the team’s faith was well placed. Russian and American players traded shots eight times before Oshie ended the game.

Russian President Vladamir Putin sat on the sidelines throughout the game and seemed to grimace after Oshie put in his final goal. 

In an interview after the game, Oshie told NBC what his thought process was during the shootout.

“Score goals,” he said he was thinking. “Score as many of them as you can.”

The U.S. men’s hockey team is set to take on Slovenia on Sunday.