Jack Hughes leads Team USA to 1st ice hockey gold medal since 1980, becomes instant legend with post-game interview

Team USA hockey player Jack Hughes

Team USA closed out the 2026 Winter Olympics with a thrilling overtime victory over Canada to clinch America's first gold medal in ice hockey since the Miracle on Ice team defeated Russia at the 1980 winter games. The hero of the day was 24-year-old Jack Hughes who scored the game-winning goal in overtime to send the U.S. to its first gold medal in ice hockey in 46 years -- to the exact day. 

Earlier in the game, Hughes, who plays in the NHL for the New Jersey Devils, lost his two front teeth after taking a high stick to the face courtesy of Canada's Sam Bennett. Hughes was bloodied, his front teeth were broken and missing -- but he remained unfazed, and despite a high-sticking penalty of his own, came through in the clutch during overtime breaking the 1-1 tie. 

It wasn't just Hughes' on-ice heroics that made him an instant hero on the rink in Milan, Italy, and back home in America. Hughes' post-game interview, fresh off the dramatic overtime goal, went viral on social media due to the fact that the young player was brimming with American pride. 

“This is all about our country right now,” Hughes told an NBC Sports reporter right after the game. “I love the USA, I love my teammates," Hughes continued, his beat-up smile visible to the TV audience. "The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong. I’m so proud to be American tonight,” he added. Hughes' patriotic remarks contrasted with those of many other U.S. Olympians who, answering leading questions from reporters, responded with negative comments about America. Photos showed an elated Hughes pumping his fist, flashing his busted smile with the U.S. flag draped over his shoulders. 

In another post-game interview, Hughes told USA Today that after he committed the high-sticking penalty he feared being the game's goat. "I pictured myself on Barstool [Sports] being the guy that America hates because Canada scores in the power play," he said. Instead, he's the guy America loves not just for his gritty exploits on the ice, but because of his unapologetic American pride.