Jack Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck lift US to Olympic hockey gold
MILAN — Jack Hughes He might have misplaced some enamel alongside the best way, however his hockey smile is even greater with a gold medal round his neck.
For the primary time for the reason that 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” the United States received an Olympic gold medal in males’s hockey as Hughes scored the golden objective in 3-on-3 time beyond regulation for a 2-1 win in opposition to rival Canada on Sunday.
US goalie Connor Hellebuyckin the meantime, was sensational, stopping 41 photographs to maintain the sport tied heading into OT.
Hughes’ objective, lower than two minutes into the additional interval, was assisted by Zach Werenskiwho wrestled the puck away from Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon and despatched a cross-ice feed to an open Hughes.
“He’s a freaking gamer. He’s always been a gamer,” Jack’s brother, US defenseman Quinn Hugheshe mentioned. “Just mentally tough, been through a lot, loves the game. American hero.”
Jack Hughes had a minimum of one entrance tooth chipped within the third interval, when he took a high-sticking penalty from Sam Bennettwhich resulted in a four-minute energy play for the US
“My first thought was, draw the penalty,” Hughes mentioned. “Actually, my first thought, I looked on the ice and saw my teeth.”
Added Matt Boldy: “More people are going to be looking at his medal than his teeth.”
American gamers talked an enormous recreation within the months main up to the event, usually repeating a mantra of “gold or bust” — and backed that up with a win over their greatest rivals. It was a clear sweep for USA Hockey, as the ladies additionally defeated Canada 2-1 in time beyond regulation for the gold medal on Thursday.
“Your whole life you’re always going up against things,” Hughes mentioned. “There’s always new adversities, new challenges. Every single player in that game went through so many things. … It’s a journey, the whole lifetime of work. I’m just a part of that. I think every single person in that game can be proud. Obviously, a great game and we had the better outcome but just a great game between USA and Canada.”
After Hughes’ profitable objective, the gloves went flying as Team USA celebrated on the ice.
“I can’t wait to see the footage of what happened after we scored, because it was a complete blackout,” defenseman Charlie McAvoy he mentioned. “Who I was hugging, where I was going… I don’t know what happened. It was just euphoria. I can’t even explain what I was feeling, just pure joy.”
Hellebuyck had a number of signature moments, the most important coming within the third interval, when he used his paddle to cease Devon Toews from tucking to rebound right into a gaping internet. He additionally stuffed Connor McDavid on a breakaway midway by the second interval.
“It’s going to go down as one of the best performances of all time — it has to,” Matthew Tkachuk mentioned of Hellebuyck. “Right up there with Jimmy Craig [in 1980]all the great United States goaltenders. In the NHL, whatever type of hockey, whatever goaltending performance you want to talk about, that’s right up there. “
Added Dylan Larkin: “That guy should never buy a drink in [his home] state of Michigan ever again.”
It was a private redemption arc for Hellebuyck, the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner who proved he can present up within the greatest moments. Hellebuyck had a tough 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs for the Winnipeg Jetsgetting pulled 3 times within the first spherical vs. the St. Louis Blues.
“Those critics, they can keep writing,” Hellebuyck mentioned. “But they don’t understand goaltending. They don’t understand my game. I know what I’m putting forward. I know what I’m building. These are the moments that provide it — not that I need to.”
The Americans additionally killed off a 93-second 5-on-3 energy play halfway by the second interval, a pivotal second within the recreation. Team USA went 18-for-18 on the penalty kill on this event.
That was a private level of satisfaction for gamers like Vincent Trocheck and JT Miller, whom some followers had questioned for being chosen for the group in favor of extra dynamic objective scorers.
“Yeah, we heard all the talk, that we shouldn’t be here. Listen, I’m not naive,” Trocheck mentioned. “I know there’s players that have more skill in the NHL. We were able to come here and we had a job to do and it was to be good penalty-kill guys, faceoff guys, character guys. We took that role and we ran with it.”
The US males had not defeated Canada in a best-on-best competitors for the reason that 1996 World Cup of Hockey, earlier than many gamers on this US roster have been born. However, the gamers mentioned they have been impressed by their previous.
Quinn Hughes mentioned the group FaceTimed former American greats Brian Leetch and Chris Chelios earlier than almost each recreation.
“It really felt like a family,” Quinn Hughes mentioned. “Not that it was our edge, but I knew we were a tight, tight room.”
Added Larkin: “The Boston crew. You get the Michigan guys. We all come together and I think it’s led by the Tkachuk brothers. Everyone is included in everything. Everyone has so much respect for everyone. It’s been so much fun playing with these guys, you don’t want it to end.”
While Team Canada determined to keep at a resort, the Americans stayed within the Olympic village — one other factor Larkin credited for bringing the group collectively.
“We just had the Olympic spirit,” Larkin mentioned.
“I can’t tell you how many texts I’ve received over the last day or so about watch parties at 8 o’clock in the morning,” Team USA coach Mike Sullivan mentioned. “I think from a viewership standpoint, the United States, there were a lot of people paying attention, the president included.”
The Canadians have been additionally hampered by the absence of team captain Sidney Crosbywho has been out since sustaining a lower-body damage within the quarterfinals in opposition to Czechia.
“It’s pretty clear given the situation whether you can either play or not play,” Crosby mentioned after the loss. “And just didn’t feel like I was able to.”
The win was revenge for Team USA after dropping 3-2 to Canada in final 12 months’s Four Nations title recreation.
As a part of Sunday’s celebration, Werenski, Matthew Tkachuk and US captain Austin Matthews skated across the ice with the No. 13 jersey of former US star Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed alongside his brother in 2024 once they have been struck by an SUV whereas driving bicycles. Team USA too brought two of Gaudreau’s kids out on the ice to take an image with the group following the medal ceremony.
Sunday marked the third time the USA and Canada met within the males’s hockey gold medal recreation. Canada had received each earlier matchups in 2002 and 2010.
Boldy opened the scoring six minutes in. The Americans held the lead till Cale Makar tied the sport late within the second interval, capping off a robust push for Canada. The Canadians outshot Team USA 19-8 within the second interval.
Canada had come from behind in each of its quarterfinal and semifinal wins. In truth, the Canadians held a lead for simply 6:05 of play for the reason that starting of the elimination rounds.
It was a fast-paced recreation with loads of probabilities, and stunningly, a number of moments wherein the very best gamers on this planet missed wide-open nets.
Hellebuyck, nonetheless, answered the decision for the US time and time once more in an exhilarating third interval.
“He was our best player by a mile,” Boldy mentioned. “He’s an absolute stud. He wants to be in those moments. He wants to make the saves. And he did just that, so he was definitely our MVP.”
