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jack hughes After scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against Canada, Team USA’s pride surged. 2026 Winter Olympicsearning Team USA its first men’s hockey goal medal in 46 years.
“This is about our country right now,” Hughes, 24, told NBC Sports. Catherine Tappen Shortly after the game. “I love America. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The U.S. hockey brotherhood is so strong. We have so much support from our former players. I’m proud to be an American today.”
Hughes, who moved to Michigan in high school to play for the U.S. National Team Development Program, scored the gold-medal-clinching goal without knocking out multiple teeth after being hit with a high stick by a Canadian. Sam Bennett in the third period.
Hughes praised the U.S. goalkeeper’s performance in a post-game interview with 44-year-old Tarpon Connor Hellebacka native of Commerce Township, Michigan.
“Hellebuyck had an unbelievable game,” Hughes said. “He was our best player tonight. Unbelievable game. An unreal game by our team. It was just a gutsy, gutsy win. That’s USA Hockey.”
Hughes continued: “This is a great Canadian team, but we are an American team. We are proud to be Americans. It was all about country tonight.”
The win gave the United States its first men’s hockey gold medal since 1980 in Lake Placid, when the U.S. defeated the Soviet Union in a game known as the “Miracle on Ice.”
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Team USA’s Jack Hughes celebrates scoring the winning goal in overtime during the men’s gold medal game between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics at the Santa Giulia Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy on February 22, 2026.
Elsa/Getty Images“That’s exactly what we wanted,” Hughes said of the game. “We wanted to go through Canada and beat them. Either way could have happened tonight. It’s an unbelievable win for the Americans.”
Jack is a star player for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and plays for Team USA with his brother. Quinn HughesPlays for the NHL Minnesota Wild. Quinn, 26, scored the game-winning overtime goal for the United States in their quarterfinal game against Sweden on Wednesday, February 18.
in a Exclusive interview US Weekly Ahead of the 2026 Olympics, Jack explained how the games will be a family event.
“A bunch of my cousins, aunts and uncles are all going to travel,” Jack said. “We had some friends over as well. I had a lot of people come over because all of us in our lives were so excited to be a part of it. It’s a very special event. You never know if we’ll be able to go back.”
As the U.S. men’s hockey team officially takes home gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the late Johnny Gaudreau will be in the back of his mind. The United States defeated Canada 2-1 in the gold medal game on Sunday, February 22, and paid a sweet tribute to Gaudreau following the victory. (The American victory marked the first time (…)
This year marks the first time NHL players will compete in the Olympics since the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Jake gushed about his friendship with Quinn, 26 Matthew and Brady TkachukAnother pair of superstar brothers from Team USA.
“We’ve had a very close relationship with them over the years,” Jack said. “Quinn lived with the Tkachuk people when he worked at the (U.S. National Team Development Program). Matthew has been a great role model for us over the years. I know they’re excited to be a part of it.”
Jack added, “Everyone knows what the Tkachuks are like. It will be fun to have them on our team.”
