Jack Hughes was overwhelmed with American delight after scoring the game-winning objective in sudden dying additional time towards Workforce Canada on the 2026 Winter Olympicsincomes Workforce USA its first objective medal in males’s hockey in 46 years.
“That is all about our nation proper now,” Hughes, 24, instructed NBC Sports activities’ Kathryn Tappen shortly after the sport. “I like the USA. I like my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The USA hockey brotherhood is so sturdy. We had a lot assist from ex-players. I’m so proud to be an American right now.”
Hughes, who moved to Michigan throughout highschool to play for the USA Nationwide Workforce Improvement Program, scored the gold medal-clinching objective sans a number of enamel knocked out after being hit with a excessive stick by Canada’s Sam Bennett within the third interval.
In his postgame interview with Tappen, 44, Hughes credited the play of Workforce USA goalie Connor Hellebuycka local of Commerce Township, Michigan.
“Unbelievable sport by Hellebuyck,” Hughes mentioned. “He was our greatest participant tonight by a mile. Unbelievable sport. Unreal sport by our staff. That’s only a ballsy, gutsy win. That’s American hockey proper there.”
Hughes continued, “That’s an incredible Canadian staff, however we’re USA. We’re so proud to be People. Tonight was all for the nation.”
The win earned the People their first gold medal in males’s hockey since 1980 in Lake Placid, when Workforce USA beat the Soviet Union within the sport iconically often known as the “Miracle on Ice.”
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Jack Hughes of Workforce United States celebrates scoring the game-winning objective in additional time throughout the Males’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the USA on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic video games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Area on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
Elsa/Getty Photographs“That’s precisely how we wished it to go,” Hughes mentioned of the sport. “We wished to undergo Canada and beat them. It might have went both means tonight. That’s an unbelievable win for the People.”
Jack, a star for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, performed on Workforce USA alongside his older brother, Quinn Hugheswho performs for the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. Quinn, 26, scored the additional time game-winning objective for the People within the quarterfinal spherical towards Workforce Sweden on Wednesday, February 18.
In an unique interview with Us Weekly earlier than the 2026 Olympics, Jack defined how the Video games had been going to be a household affair.
“A bunch of my cousins, aunts and uncles are making the journey,” Jack mentioned. “We bought some buddies coming over, too. I’ve lots of people coming over as a result of all of the individuals in our lives are so excited to be part of this. It’s such a particular occasion. You by no means know if we’ll be capable to return.”
Workforce USA males’s hockey saved the late Johnny Gaudreau of their hearts once they formally turned gold medal champions on the 2026 Winter Olympics. Workforce USA beat Workforce Canada 2-1 within the gold medal sport on Sunday, February 22, the place they sweetly honored Gaudreau upon their victory. (The American victory marks the primary time that (…)
NHL gamers participated within the Olympics this yr for the primary time because the 2014 Video games in Sochi.
Jack gushed concerning the bond he and Quinn, 26, share with Matthew and Brady Tkachukone other pair of famous person brothers on Workforce USA.
“We’re actually shut with them from through the years,” Jack mentioned. “Quinn lived with the Tkachuks when he was with (the U.S. Nationwide Workforce Improvement Program). Matthew’s been a very good function mannequin for us through the years. I do know they’re excited to be part of it.”
Jack added, “Everyone is aware of how the Tkachuks are. They’ll be enjoyable to have on our staff.”