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The face of American hockey has a bloody lip, missing teeth and disheveled hair.
Jack Hughes represents the best of us. Grit, toughness, pride, the willingness to sacrifice for others, no matter how messy or irrational.
Forty-six years to the day of The Miracle on Ice, the Americans transformed hockey into a three-hour anthem in Italy.
No politics, no posturing, no whining, just winning.
Former captain Mike Mike Eruzione was right. This was their team. This was their time. We will never forget 1980. But we no longer have to live in the past. Or have a Netflix account.
The golden glow is back, returned by a spirited group of muckers, grinders and a breathtaking goalie.
“It’s all about our country. I love the USA. I love my teammates. I am so proud of the Americans today. Unbelievable game by (Connor) Hellebuyck. He was our best player by a mile,” Hughes said on the NBC broadcast. “The USA Hockey brotherhood means so much. We are such a team. The brotherhood is so strong.”
The Americans followed a script that creates goosebumps.
They were underdogs, facing a Canadian team that boasted a battery of future Hall of Famers, including the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
Their roster was questioned, built in the image of Ford rather than Ferrari. Team USA general manager Bill Guerin wanted brawn and size, preferring players capable of preventing Canadian goals more than scoring them.
They were inspired, hanging the No 13 jersey of Johnny Gaudreau in their locker room. Johnny and his brother Matthew were killed by a drunk driver in 2024. The Gaudreau family traveled to Milan on Friday and watched from the stands at Santagiulia Arena, eyes watering as former NHL teammates honored his memory.
We all agree the Canadians probably beat the Americans in a best-of-seven series. But in one game, with all the pressure on the opponent, the U.S. relied on togetherness, leaned on chemistry built in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
It is the beauty of the sport. The numbers can be lopsided. But it only takes one shift, one shot to change the outcome.
It came at the 1:41 mark of overtime. In the required 3-on-3 format — a game like this deserved an even strength ending — Hughes took a pass from Zach Werenski and delivered the golden goal, sneaking it past Jordan Binnington.
I screamed at the TV as many did across the country at breakfast watch parties. It was a primal outburst of appreciation and admiration.
Canada had won every Olympics featuring NHL players. Their best was always better than everyone else. In 2010 in Vancouver, in 2014 in Sochi and at the 4 Nations last year.
And they were the best team on the ice for two periods, even without injured captain Sidney Crosby.
But they were playing with no elasticity, with the weight of a country that views hockey gold like the United States views Olympic basketball championships — as a birthright.
The Americans’ plan was simple, if not unrealistic. Get ahead early, and survive the onslaught.
Matt Boldy scored six minutes in. In a frenetic pace that even hardened commentators had never seen, Boldy chased down a bouncing puck and knifed between the Avs’ Makar and Devon Toews to score. It was the type of goal you see to win games, not start them, a testament to the magnitude of the matchup.
How did he keep it on his stick and find the back of the net?
“I don’t know,” Boldy admitted.
The final two periods also defied explanation.
The Canadians tilted the ice, and took aim at Hellebuyck. They outshot the Americans 33-18 over the last 40 minutes in regulation. Only one squirted through, Makar’s laser from top of the right faceoff circle.
MacKinnon had chances, his rockets stoned or too wide. Connor McDavid raced free midway through the second period, failed to shift down and managed only a nudge into Hellebuyck’s pads. Macklin Celebrini, the future of the NHL, was left wanting on a breakaway.
But the one everyone will be talking about forever was Hellebuyck’s denial of Toews.All alone just outside the crease, Toews had the puck with an open net. He swatted it and somehow a falling, bending, twitching Hellebuyck raised his stick for the deflection.
This is when momentum became a movement. The Americans understood it. Hellebuyck was holding onto the rope. He needed someone, anyone, to tug with him.
Hughes, 24, arrived straight out of central casting.
He was a former No. 1 overall pick, who spent the early part of his career burdened by expectations. He has only reached the playoffs once with the New Jersey Devils.
But he was from a family of patriots.
His brother Quinn scored the overtime winner when USA defeated Sweden in the quarterfinals. Their mother Ellen Weinberg-Hughes worked as a consultant for the women’s gold medal team.
And here was Jack in the spotlight.
He was ready, even if he needed makeup. In the third period, Hughes lost his smile when Sam Bennett clipped him with a high stick.
Moments later, Hughes provided the explanation point to this surreal performance.
The boys are back. The birds are free. And for one beautiful morning, we felt like a unified country.
“We did it for the people back home, for all the love and support we got,” Hughes said. “You dream of this. A lot of talk for us was breaking the drought. And we thought this was the group that could do it. We are gold medalists. We are the champions. Tonight, we are the best in the world.”
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Troy Renck
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