Canton’s Jack Hughes Scores OT Game-Winning Goal for Team USA Men’s Hockey Gold

Team USA’s gold medal win in men’s hockey came on the 46th anniversary of the ”Miracle on Ice” game.
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Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States celebrates after their gold-medal win during the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States celebrates after their gold-medal win during the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. // Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Jack Hughes, one of 15 Michiganders competing in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lead the USA men’s hockey team to a 2-1 victory against Canada in the gold medal game. This is the first time Team USA has won Olympic gold in men’s hockey since the famed 1980 men’s hockey defied the odds in Lake Placid.

Hughes’ goal came at 1 minute and 41 seconds into overtime. Prior to the goal, Hughes took a high-stick to the face in the third period, which resulted in him losing some of his front teeth.

Hughes and his brother/Team USA teammate, Quinn, moved to Canton with their family as teens to join USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Plymouth. On the ice during Hughes’ OT goal were three other Michiganders: Grosse Pointe’s Zach Werenski, Waterford’s Dylan Larkin, and Commerce’s Connor Hellebuyck, who delivered an incredible performance in goal saving 41 of 42 shots. Overall, Hellebuyck had a .956 save percentage during the entire 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Both gold medal games in men’s and women’s hockey found Team USA against Team Canada. Each game ended 2-1 in overtime with Michiganders delivering game-winning goals. For the gold medal game in women’s hockey, Farmington Hills’ Megan Keller scored a stunning highlight-reel goal to give Team USA women’s hockey their first Olympic gold since 2018.

Reaction to Jack Hughes’ Goal, Team USA’s Victory Over Canada

Jack Hughes was picked by the New Jersey Devils as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. He has played his entire NHL career with the Devils, who were clearly very proud of their star center. The Devils shared a series of posts across social media, with one of the most emotional posts being, “In the biggest moment, on the biggest stage, with the whole world watching. JACK HUGHES DELIVERED.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also shared her well-wishes writing, “Another Michigander sealing the deal in overtime…LFG! Congrats Team USA men’s hockey and Jack Hughes for scoring the game winning goal to secure the gold.”

Despite being a Canadian NHL team, the Winnipeg Jets were quick to shoutout Hellebuyck, who has been a member of the Jets for his entire 10-season NHL career.

As previously reported, the 32-year-old has earned several honors in the NHL, including winning the Vezina Trophy in 2020, 2024, and 2025 for being the best goaltender in the league. In 2025, he also won the Hart Memorial Trophy for being the most valuable player to his team.

Considering that, the Jets simply wrote, “Another fine addition to the collection.” Their post featured Hellebuyck among the many trophies he’s won with a hastily drawn gold medal around his neck.

The Detroit Red Wings also joined in celebrating Team USA by honoring Larkin. They shared a series of photos and captioned them with, “So proud to call him our captain.”

Werenski, who earned an assist from Hughes’ golden goal, plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team was incredibly proud of their defenseman for setting Hughes up and shared, “A game winning assist, a golden moment. Congrats Z!”

 
 




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