Jack Hughes Overtime Lifts U.S. To Olympic Hockey Gold
Jack Hughes scored 1:41 into 3-on-3 overtime as the U.S. beat Canada 2-1 for men's hockey gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 22.
Overview
Jack Hughes scored 1:41 into 3-on-3 overtime to give the United States a 2-1 victory over Canada for the men's hockey gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 22.
The victory was the United States' first Olympic men's hockey gold since 1980 and its third overall, occurring 46 years after the 1980 'Miracle on Ice' team.
Hughes said, 'This is all about our country right now,' and teammates said goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped 41 of 42 shots in a standout performance.
Teammates carried Johnny Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey in tribute after Gaudreau’s parents, Guy and Jay, his widow Meredith and their oldest children attended, and the men’s win followed the U.S. women’s overtime victory over Canada.
The win silenced criticism of general manager Bill Guerin’s roster choices and ended a Canadian run that had won every international competition featuring the world's best players for 16 years.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this as neutral celebratory sports coverage with factual detail rather than editorializing. Language is descriptive (e.g., 'thrilling overtime victory'); perspectives are factual (honors, family presence, criminal charge) and context is provided (career highlights, 'Miracle on Ice' link). There is no evaluative framing or omitted viewpoints.
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FAQ
The U.S. victory was the first Olympic men's hockey gold medal for America since the legendary 1980 'Miracle on Ice' team, ending a 46-year drought[1]. It marked only the third gold medal in U.S. Olympic men's hockey history[2]. Additionally, this was revenge for Team USA after losing to Canada in the Four Nations tournament in 2025, and it ended Canada's 16-year dominance in international competitions featuring NHL players[3].
Jack Hughes scored at 1:41 into 3-on-3 overtime by firing a wrist shot past Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington between his legs[3]. The goal came after Zach Werenski stripped Nathan MacKinnon of the puck in the right face-off circle and sent it across to Hughes[3].
Connor Hellebuyck made 40-41 saves in an outstanding performance, including a breakaway stop on Connor McDavid in the second period and a desperation stick save against Devon Toews in the third[1][3]. This was personally significant as Hellebuyck, the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner, had struggled in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs with the Winnipeg Jets, being pulled three times in the first round, so this gold medal performance represented redemption in a high-pressure moment[1].
Yes, the U.S. women's hockey team also won gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics, defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime on Thursday, creating a clean sweep for USA Hockey across both men's and women's competitions[1].
Both Jack and Quinn Hughes contributed significantly to the U.S. victory. Jack Hughes scored the golden goal in the gold medal game, while his older brother Quinn, a defenseman for the Minnesota Wild, scored an overtime goal in the quarterfinal against Sweden that sent the U.S. to the semifinals and was named the best defender in the Olympic tournament by the International Ice Hockey Federation[2].
History
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