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Esmark Founder and Executive Chairman James Bouchard Expresses Disappointment in U.S.A. Women’s Hockey Team for Declining President Trump’s Invitation to Washington

Business Wire

Wed, February 25, 2026 at 4:33 AM GMT+9 2 min read

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. & SEWICKLEY, Pa., February 24, 2026–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Esmark Inc. today issued the following statement from James Bouchard, Founder and Executive Chairman:

"I am proud of the U.S.A. Women’s National Hockey Team for their stellar performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Esmark has supported youth athletics for decades, including hockey programs that help families manage the high costs of participating in the sport.

However, I’m deeply disappointed in the team for declining President Trump’s personal invitation to meet with him in Washington in connection with tonight’s State of the Union address. Moments of national recognition matter—especially for young players at home watching and wondering what is possible for them.

At Esmark, we want to ensure our support aligns with our values and delivers meaningful outcomes for the communities we serve, and we’ll be evaluating our sports philanthropy recipients."

The company is an active corporate citizen in the communities it serves, having committed more than $10 million in philanthropic support of a wide range of humanitarian, education, family wellness and youth sports programs in Pennsylvania, Illinois and internationally.

Esmark and Bouchard’s Historical Investments in Hockey:

**Pittsburgh Stars (Formerly known as Esmark Stars):** sponsored the Tier I AAA Hockey Club, under the North Hills Amateur Hockey Association (NHAHA) umbrella, from 2013-2023

**Esmark All-Americans:** honors top U.S. high school student athletes for excellence in sports, academics and community services. Provides financial support and connections to college coaches.

**Quaker Valley School District Youth Hockey**: Esmark and Bouchard are financial supporters of the program. Bouchard was inducted into the QV sports hall of fame in 2015.

**HK Esmark Košice**: In January 2026, Esmark announced it is the team sponsor and co-owner of HK Esmark Košice in Slovakia.

**Johnstown Tomahawk****s**: Esmark acquired the NAHL franchise in 2012 and relocated it from Alaska to Pennsylvania. Esmark sold its majority ownership in 2023.

About Esmark, Inc.

Esmark, Inc. is a diversified, privately-held family company with a portfolio of industrial companies with strong roots in the steel industry. Over the years, Esmark has diversified its interests and operations into a number of businesses engaged in the industrial and commodity sectors. Esmark (a former publicly traded company on NASDAQ: ESMK) has focused on several key industries including steel services, oil and gas exploration, aviation, real estate, professional services, technology and youth sports development. The company is also an active corporate citizen in the communities it serves, having committed more than $10 million in philanthropic support of a wide range of humanitarian, education, family wellness and youth sports programs in Pennsylvania, Illinois and internationally. esmark.com

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Contacts

**Media Contact: **
Katie Regan
Director of Communication
Esmark, Inc.
Katie.regan@esmark.com

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