Team USA ended its 46-year Olympic hockey drought in dramatic fashion, with Jack Hughes playing hero in a thrilling overtime victory against Canada.
The 24-year-old New Jersey Devils star buried the golden goal off a perfect feed from Zach Werenski, sealing a 2-1 win and America’s first Olympic hockey gold since the legendary “Miracle on Ice” in 1980.
It was a Hughes family affair in Milan Cortina 2026. Just days earlier, Jack’s older brother Quinn had played hero himself, scoring the game-winner against Sweden in the quarterfinals.
While the Tkachuk brothers – Brady and Matthew – grabbed most of the pre-tournament headlines, it was the Hughes siblings who etched their names into Olympic history.
“This is what you dream about as a kid,” Jack Hughes said, still catching his breath after the celebration. “To do it with my brother here… I mean, it’s just perfect.”
The brothers’ chemistry proved crucial both on and off the ice. Team officials credited them with helping build the tight-knit atmosphere that carried the Americans through the tournament’s toughest moments.
Quinn, 26, who plays for the Minnesota Wild, couldn’t hold back tears during the medal ceremony. “Jack and I used to play Olympic hockey in our basement. Now we’ve got real gold medals around our necks.”
It’s the kind of story that seems almost too perfect – two brothers delivering the biggest goals in American hockey’s biggest triumph in nearly half a century.
The victory sets up Team USA as an early favorite for the 2030 Games, with both Hughes brothers likely to return in their prime years.
