Jack Hughes, a center for the NHL's New Jersey Devils, scored the overtime-winning goal for the United States against Canada in the men's ice hockey gold-medal game at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Feb. 22, 2026, at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy. The victory marked the first U.S. gold medal in men's Olympic hockey since 1980.[1][2]
Hughes, who turned 24 in May 2025, expressed frustration that the puck from the goal is held by the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. "I'm trying to get it … Why would they have that puck?" he told ESPN, adding it was "bulls---."
The puck was donated to the Hockey Hall of Fame by the International Ice Hockey Federation after the game. Philip Pritchard, the Hall's vice president of the resource center and curator, told ESPN: "Unfortunately, in the easiest words, it was never Jack's puck to own. It's been donated to us now. For every artifact that's been donated, we have a paper trail and signed paperwork of where it's come from."[3]
In Olympic tournaments, officials collect pucks and gear for memorabilia, which the IIHF typically donates to the Hockey Hall of Fame, unlike in NHL games where players often keep such items. The Hall stated that artifacts are preserved and shared globally through its museum.
The Hall also received the puck from Megan Keller's golden goal in the women's gold-medal game three days earlier. Hughes said he wants the puck for his father, a collector of his three sons' memorabilia, and plans to formally contact the Hall, which has returned items to players previously.
Hughes brothers Quinn and Luke also play in the NHL, with Quinn for the Vancouver Canucks and Luke for the Devils.[4]
Sources
- International Olympic Committee, "Milano Cortina 2026," accessed October 2024, https://olympics.com/en/milan-cortina-2026/
- International Ice Hockey Federation, "Olympic Games - Men: Medal Table," accessed October 2024, https://www.iihf.com/en/static/6515/olympics_men
- Hockey Hall of Fame, "Philip Pritchard," accessed October 2024, https://www.hhof.com/page/pritchard-philip
- NHL.com, "Jack Hughes," accessed October 2024, https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/jack-hughes-8480020
