MILAN — Jack Hughes may have lost some teeth along the way, but his hockey smile is even bigger with a gold medal around his neck.
For the first time since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” the United States won an Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey as Hughes scored the golden goal in 3-on-3 overtime for a 2-1 win against rival Canada on Sunday.
U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck, meanwhile, was sensational, stopping 41 shots to keep the game tied heading into OT.
Hughes’ goal, less than two minutes into the extra period, was assisted by Zach Werenski, who wrestled the puck away from Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon and sent a cross-ice feed to an open Hughes.
“He’s a freaking gamer. He’s always been a gamer,” Jack’s brother, U.S. defenseman Quinn Hughes, said. “Just mentally tough, been through a lot, loves the game. American hero.”
Jack Hughes had at least one front tooth chipped in the third period, when he took a high-sticking penalty from Sam Bennett, which resulted in a four-minute power play for the U.S.
“My first thought was, draw the penalty,” Hughes said. “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 players talked a big game in the months leading up to the tournament, often repeating a mantra of “gold or bust” — and backed that up with a win over their biggest rivals. It was a clean sweep for USA Hockey, as the women also defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime for the gold medal on Thursday.
“Your whole life you’re always going up against things,” Hughes said. “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’ winning goal, 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 said. “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 several signature moments, the biggest coming in the third period, when he used his paddle to stop Devon Toews from tucking a rebound into a gaping net. He also stuffed Connor McDavid on a breakaway halfway through the second period.
“It’s going to go down as one of the best performances of all time — it has to,” Matthew Tkachuk said 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 personal redemption arc for Hellebuyck, the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner who proved he can show up in the biggest moments. Hellebuyck had a rough 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs for the Winnipeg Jets, getting pulled three times in the first round vs. the St. Louis Blues.
“Those critics, they can keep writing,” Hellebuyck said. “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 prove it — not that I need to.”
The Americans also killed off a 93-second 5-on-3 power play midway through the second period, a pivotal moment in the game. Team USA went 18-for-18 on the penalty kill in this tournament.
That was a personal point of pride for players like Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller, whom some fans had questioned for being selected for the team in favor of more dynamic goal scorers.
“Yeah, we heard all the talk, that we shouldn’t be here. Listen, I’m not naive,” Trocheck said. “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 U.S. men had not defeated Canada in a best-on-best competition since the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, before many players on this U.S. roster were born. However, the players said they were inspired by their past.
Quinn Hughes said the team FaceTimed former American greats Brian Leetch and Chris Chelios before nearly every game.
“It really felt like a family,” Quinn Hughes said. “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 decided to stay at a hotel, the Americans stayed in the Olympic village — another thing Larkin credited for bringing the group together.
“We just had the Olympic spirit,” Larkin said.
“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 said. “I think from a viewership standpoint, the United States, there were a lot of people paying attention, the president included.”
The Canadians were also hampered by the absence of team captain Sidney Crosby, who has been out since sustaining a lower-body injury in the quarterfinals against Czechia.
“It’s pretty clear given the situation whether you can either play or not play,” Crosby said after the loss. “And just didn’t feel like I was able to.”
The win was revenge for Team USA after losing 3-2 to Canada in last year’s Four Nations title game.
As part of Sunday’s celebration, Werenski, Matthew Tkachuk and U.S. captain Auston Matthews skated around the ice with the No. 13 jersey of former U.S. star Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed alongside his brother in 2024 when they were struck by an SUV while riding bicycles. Team USA also brought two of Gaudreau’s kids out on the ice to take a picture with the team following the medal ceremony.
Sunday marked the third time the USA and Canada met in the men’s hockey gold medal game. Canada had won both previous matchups in 2002 and 2010.
Boldy opened the scoring six minutes in. The Americans held the lead until Cale Makar tied the game late in the second period, capping off a strong push for Canada. The Canadians outshot Team USA 19-8 in the second period.
Canada had come from behind in both of its quarterfinal and semifinal wins. In fact, the Canadians held a lead for just 6:05 of play since the beginning of the elimination rounds.
It was a fast-paced game with plenty of chances, and stunningly, several moments in which the best players in the world missed wide-open nets.
Hellebuyck, however, answered the call for the U.S. time and time again in a thrilling third period.
“He was our best player by a mile,” Boldy said. “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.”