Hughes Brothers Hockey and Jack Hughes’s golden goal lift U.S. to Olympic gold

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 22, 2026 4:48 PM ET

hughes brothers hockey landed center ice Sunday when Jack Hughes, 24, scored the overtime goal on Feb. 22 to give Team USA a 2-1 win over Canada in the Olympic men’s hockey gold medal game — a finish that ended a decades-long drought and put the United States on top of the hockey world for the first time in nearly a half-century.

Hughes Brothers Hockey

Jack Hughes, the younger brother of Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes and older brother of Luke Hughes, delivered the decisive play in a 2-1 victory over Canada on Feb. 22 in the Olympic men’s final. He finished the tournament as the overtime hero, adding to a run that included two goals in Team USA’s semifinal win over Slovakia. The U. S. swept to gold with an overtime finish and a series of standout moments from players with Minnesota ties; both gold medal-winning hockey teams pulled off overtime victories over Canada with heavy contributions from Minnesota players.

Jack Hughes’s path to the golden goal

Hughes was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils and has 387 points in 404 NHL games. He is a two-time All-Star known for speed and playmaking instincts, but his career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries — he has missed time in all seven of his NHL seasons because of health issues. Still, he was tremendous for the U. S. at these Olympics, scoring twice against Slovakia in the semifinals and the winning overtime goal in the final. He also lost a tooth while taking a high-sticking penalty on Sunday in the gold medal game.

Family ties and development

Born in Orlando and raised in Toronto while his father, Jim, worked for the Maple Leafs, Hughes moved with his family to Michigan when the boys entered the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. Jack is the only Hughes brother who went straight to the NHL; Quinn and younger brother Luke Hughes went to the University of Michigan before turning pro. Both parents were hockey players who later worked in player development, and his mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, played for the U. S. women’s national team and served as a consultant for the gold medal-winning American women’s hockey team at these Olympics.

What teammates and brothers said

U. S. teammate Tage Thompson praised Hughes’s temperament and playmaking: “He is built for these moments, ” Thompson said, noting Hughes loves pressure and the spotlight and wants the puck on his stick. Hughes himself told reporters in Italy after Sunday’s game that playing for his country has been among his best experiences and called winning gold “an unbelievable moment” as the team broke the long drought. Quinn Hughes called his brother’s goal “extra special” and added, “He’s an animal… No one loves the game more than him. He’s got so much passion. He’s a gamer. ”

Contributors and context

Naila-Jean Meyers contributed reporting. Ben Gotz is a college/women’s sports team leader. The headline moment on Feb. 22 left the United States atop the hockey world for the first time in nearly 50 years — no miracle needed.