U.S. hockey star Jack Hughes made Olympic history at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, celebrating not just a gold medal but the pride that comes with representing his country on the world stage.
The 24-year-old forward, who plays for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, scored the sudden-death goal, leading Team USA to victory in overtime during the men’s hockey finals against Canada on Feb. 23.
“This is all about our country right now,” Hughes told NBC in a post-game interview. “I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The U.S. are a hockey brotherhood. It’s so strong and we had so much support from ex-players. I’m so proud to be American today.”
The 2–1 win marked the first Olympic men’s hockey gold for Team USA in 46 years. In the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” the U.S. achieved a 4–3 upset victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union in the semifinals at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. The U.S. would later defeat Finland for the gold.
Filled with enthusiasm, Hughes praised goalie Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, who saved 41 out of 42 shots.
“Unbelievable game by Hellebuyck,” he said. “He was our best player tonight by a mile. Unbelievable game. Unreal game by our team. It’s just a ballsy, gutsy win. That’s American hockey right there. That’s a great Canadian team, but we’re USA. We’re so proud to be American. Tonight was all for the country.”
The match-up left Hughes bloodied and missing a few teeth, after getting hit in the mouth with a stick from Canadian Sam Bennett in the third period.
“I can’t even believe this. It’s such an unbelievable game, USA, Canada, that’s such a good game,” Hughes added. “They have so many great players. We’re a great team. That’s exactly how we wanted it to go. We wanted to go through Canada and beat them and it could have went either way tonight but that’s an unbelievable win for the Americans.”
Hughes’ older brother and defenseman for the Minnesota Wild, Quinn, 26, expressed how proud he was to play alongside his sibling in the Olympics and his passion for the sport.
“No one loves the game more than him,” Quinn said. “He’s got so much passion. He’s a gamer. He made it happen.”
The victory ignited celebrations among fans and political leaders alike, including President Donald Trump, who congratulated the team on delivering a “moment the country will remember for decades.”
FBI Director Kash Patel was also seen partying with players in the locker room after the game, before thanking Team USA for best representing the “greatest country on earth.”
“Unity, sacrifice, attitude—what it takes to be the best in the world,” he wrote on X. “These men live and breathe it. Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants.”
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