Jack Hughes etched his name into American hockey history with an overtime golden goal that gave Team USA a heart-stopping 2-1 victory over Canada in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
The win ended a 46-year drought, giving the U.S. its first men’s hockey gold medal since the legendary “Miracle on Ice” in 1980.
But victory came at a price for Hughes. The American star lost part of a front tooth in the third period after taking a high stick from Canada’s Sam Bennett.
“I’m lucky I’m from the best country in the world, and we’ve got great dentists there too,” Hughes joked after the game. “They’re going to fix me right up.”
The game was an instant classic, with U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck putting on a show. He stopped an incredible 41 of 42 shots – a record for a gold-medal game featuring NHL players.
For Hughes, this was more than just another hockey game. It was a chance to rewrite history against a Canadian team that had dominated Olympic matchups, including gold medal wins over the U.S. in 2002 and 2010.
“The best experiences I have are playing for my country,” Hughes said. “Playing to break the golden drought with this group of guys and for us to win gold here at the Olympics — just an unbelievable moment.”
The rivalry between these hockey powerhouses runs deep. Canada had just beaten the U.S. in the 4 Nations Face-Off final last winter, making this Olympic victory even sweeter.
Hughes reflected on the journey that led to this moment: “Your whole life you’re always going up against things. There’s always new adversities, new challenges. Every single player in that game went through so many things.”
That chipped tooth? It might need fixing, but it’s given Hughes a battle scar he’ll probably be proud to show off for a while. After all, not many people can say they scored the goal that ended America’s 46-year Olympic hockey drought.
