Gold medalists, Group United States, pose for a group photograph through the medal ceremony following the Males’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the USA on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic video games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Enviornment on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
Bruce Bennett | Getty Photographs Sport | Getty Photographs
The USA ended an almost half-century look forward to Olympic males’s ice hockey gold with a 2-1 time beyond regulation victory in opposition to Canada in an exciting closing on Sunday, with Jack Hughes delivering their third title and first since 1980 with the successful shot.
Hughes left all of it — together with a minimum of considered one of his tooth — out on the ice in a nerve-jangling triumph precisely 46 years to the day because the iconic U.S. “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union en path to gold in Lake Placid.
It got here right down to three-on-three play the place Hughes collected a cross from Zach Werenski and fired into the web one minute and 41 seconds into the additional interval, flashing a bloody, chipped grin after receiving a excessive persist with the face within the third interval.
The purpose resulted in gloves, helmets and sticks flying over the ice as his teammates ran to smother the American hero.
“The most effective experiences I’ve are taking part in for my nation, taking part in to interrupt the golden drought with this group of fellows and for us to win gold right here on the Olympics,” mentioned Hughes.
He arrived at a post-game media convention talking with a newly acquired lisp because the odor of celebratory beer wafted within the air. “Simply an unbelievable second,” he added.
Matt Boldy had put the U.S. forward after six minutes with the Individuals’ first shot of the sport earlier than Canada levelled by means of Cale Makar to arrange a nail-biting closing interval.
U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves over the 60 minutes, a becoming finish to a terrific event for the keeper who by no means let up an influence play purpose in Milan.
Canada had been lacking captain Sidney Crosby, 38, who scored the time beyond regulation purpose in opposition to the U.S. to safe gold on dwelling ice at Vancouver 2010. Crosby left the quarter-final injured in a tragic end with followers wonderingif it could possibly be his final Video games.
“You wish to be on the market and also you wish to discover each manner attainable however not on the expense of what must be finished,” mentioned Crosby. “It is simply unlucky we could not discover a manner.”
Double gold for U.S. ice hockey
It’s the first time the U.S. have received the boys’s and ladies’s tournaments in a single Video games, with the American girls beating Canada in their very own time beyond regulation thriller on Thursday.
The video games had been performed in opposition to the backdrop of political tensions between the U.S. and Canada, with President Donald Trump having repeatedly threatened to make Canada the 51st state by means of “financial drive.”
The White Home X account posted a picture of an American bald eagle stepping on the neck of a Canadian goose and U.S. coach Mike Sullivan mentioned Trump referred to as to congratulate the group after the sport.
“This sport in loads of methods was an inspiration to our nation,” mentioned Sullivan.
Dream showdown between North American rivals
Billed because the showpiece match the world wished to see after the return of NHL gamers to the Video games following a 12-year absence, the North American rivals didn’t disappoint with a ferocious combat for the ultimate gold of the Milano Cortina Video games.
Followers on the Santagiulia enviornment poured out duelling chants of “USA!” and “Canada!” because the gamers traded blows.
It took till the sixth minute for the U.S. to get their first shot off, however they made it rely.
Boldy juggled the puck on his stick on his well beyond two Canadian defenders and slipped a backhander past the goalie.
The U.S. had not conceded on an influence play all event however with two gamers within the penalty field that spectacular statistic got here beneath risk. The Individuals held agency throughout five-on-three play halfway by means of the second interval.
Canada, nonetheless, lastly discovered a well beyond Hellebuyck in purpose with lower than two minutes to the ultimate interval. Devon Toews’ cross discovered Makar in acres of area and the Canadian defenceman made no mistake along with his wrist shot.
The U.S. squandered a major probability to keep away from time beyond regulation when Sam Bennett, a last-minute substitute on the Canadian roster, obtained despatched to the penalty field for 4 minutes after whacking Hughes throughout the mouth within the third interval.
“I regarded down on the ice and noticed my tooth. I used to be like ‘Right here we go once more’,” mentioned Hughes. “The final time that occurred, it wasn’t very enjoyable.”
The followers’ determined screams did nothing to encourage one other purpose because the clock wound down.
4 days after his older brother, Quinn, delivered the kill-shot within the Individuals’ quarter-final win, it was Jack Hughes’ flip to shine and he proudly flashed his battle-dented smile as he wrapped himself within the American flag.
The gamers held up a jersey honouring the late Johnny Gaudreau after the win in an emotional tribute to the Columbus Blue Jackets winger who performed for the U.S. He died alongside his brother, Matthew, once they had been hit by a car in 2024.
“Only a delicate reminder that him, his brother, that they are sort of with us in spirit,” mentioned captain Auston Matthews.
