US ice hockey star Jack Hughes scored the winning goal in the men’s Winter Olympic final to give his team their first gold medal in the event in 46 years on Sunday.
The American team, which also featured Jack’s brother, Quinn, beat Canada 2-1 in overtime in Italy in the final sporting contest of the Games.
Jack, 24, said after the game: “This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The US are a hockey brotherhood. It’s so strong, and we had so much support from ex-players. I’m so proud to be American today”.
During the third period of regular time, Jack had at least one front tooth chipped by opponent Sam Bennett’s stick, leaving him bloodied.
But he persevered to return to the ice, ultimately playing the decisive role for his side.
Older brother Quinn, 26, said Jack is “a freaking gamer, he’s always been a gamer. Just mentally tough, been through a lot, loves the game. American hero”.
And teammate Matt Boldy, who scored the game’s opening goal, joked: “To be honest, I think more people are looking at his medal than his teeth!”
A gap-toothed and grinning Jack went on: “Listen, they probably outplayed us a little bit tonight… and then in overtime we both have skill players. Anything can happen. We’re just so proud to win for our country”.
“To break the golden drought with this group of guys, and for us to win gold here at the Olympics, is just an unbelievable moment.”
The brothers were born to a Jewish mother and a Catholic father in Florida, but spent much of their childhood in Toronto and Michigan.
The third Hughes brother, Luke, is 22 and also plays ice hockey professionally. The boys grew up celebrating Passover, and the Times of Israel reported in 2019 that Jack had a bar mitzvah.
The trio represent something of a Jewish hockey dynasty. All three play in the NHL, Luke and Jack for the New Jersey Devils and Quinn – who was named the league’s top defenceman in 2024 when playing for the Vancouver Canucks – for the Minnesota Wild.
Jack also became the first Jewish player to be drafted first overall pick in the NHL draft when the Devils picked him in 2019.
And, when Luke was drafted in 2021, they became the first American family to have three siblings picked in the first round of the NHL draft. The three brothers also appeared together on the cover of NHL 25, the 2024/25 edition of EA Sports’ popular ice hockey video game.
Their mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, had a distinguished hockey career of her own, representing the US women’s hockey team at the 1992 World Championships. She is a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
After the final, Jack – who is reported to be dating pop star Tate McRae – was quick to commend US goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who made 41 saves during the match.
“He was our best player tonight by a mile. Unbelievable game. Unreal game by our team. It’s just a ballsy, gutsy win. That’s American hockey right there. That’s a great Canadian team, but we’re USA. We’re so proud to be American. Tonight was all for the country”.
The US team started the final strongly as Matt Boldy scored the opening goal after six minutes, with Quinn Hughes picking up an assist.
The Canadian team, which was hampered by the absence of captain Sidney Crosby who picked up an injury in their quarter-final against Czechia, struck back at the end of the second period through Cale Makar.
The score was tied 1-1 at the end of the three periods of regular time – albeit not before Jack Hughes had picked up a two-minute penalty for a high stick with just a few minutes remaining.
But Jack scored the decisive goal – likely the most important he will ever score – just 101 seconds into overtime, where the teams reduce from 5-on-5 to 3-on-3 (plus the goaltender).
Jack (L) and Quinn (R) Hughes of Team USA celebrate winning the gold medals in ice hockey on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy (Getty Images)Getty Images
Zach Werenski, who played the pass to Jack for the winning goal, said after the game: “I kind of just saw a white jersey on the far ice and just tried to throw it over there as quick as I could. I got it to the right guy. He’s been hot all tournament”.
Another teammate, Brock Nelson, chipped in: “As a kid, when you’re growing up, and you’re watching the Olympics, you kind of remember moments. I’m sure this is going to be a moment that younger kids are talking about: ‘You see Jack scoring the OT [overtime] winner?’.
“I’m sure that’s a moment that kids are probably going to try to recreate and try to envision themselves in that spot later on in life”.
The brothers Jack and Quinn both had stellar tournaments. Jack scored four goals and picked up three assists, and Quinn scored once with seven assists.
They also weren’t the only Jews in the US squad; they were joined by goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who saved 18 of the 21 shots he faced in a 6-3 win over Denmark in the group stage, the only match that he played.
The last time the US men’s team won gold in ice hockey was in 1980, when they beat the Soviet Union in the ‘Miracle on Ice’, inspiring a famous film of the same name.
Since then, they have twice faced this year’s opponents, Canada, in the gold medal match, in 2002 and 2010, losing both times.
The three golds in the men’s team make it five Jewish medals in ice hockey at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. They join star goalie Aerin Frankel’s gold for the US and fellow goaltender Kayle Osborne’s silver for Canada.
The five ice hockey medallists – four golds and one silver – add to the achievements of three other Jewish medallists earlier in the Games.
Curler Korey Dropkin, snowboarder Scotty James, and speed skater Emery Lehman all won silver medals.
Together, that makes an impressive eight Jewish medals at the Games, four gold and four silver.
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