Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes lead Team USA at Milan Cortina
quinn hughes and his brother Jack made their Olympic debuts at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as teammates on the U. S. men’s hockey team. The brothers have helped the Americans through a run that has included wins over Latvia, Denmark, Germany and Sweden and a spot in the semifinals.
Family of coaches and hockey
Jack and Quinn Hughes are sons of Jim and Ellen Hughes, who are both hockey coaches. Ellen Hughes even helped the U. S. Women’s hockey team win gold. Jim and Ellen are also parents to son Luke, who plays on the New Jersey Devils alongside Jack. However, unlike his older brothers, Luke did not score a spot in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Quinn Hughes’s quarterfinal winner
quinn hughes was originally named to the Team USA roster last year but was forced to withdraw due to a lower-body/oblique injury. This year he returned and delivered a decisive moment in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, making the game-winning goal against Sweden to secure the U. S. men’s team a shot at playing for a medal as they advance to the semifinals. After that whirlwind game his teammate and brother Jack praised him: “That’s unreal. That’s a massive goal, massive moment, ” Jack gushed. “One of our best players taking over there and winning that game for us. ”
Jack’s surge in Milan
MILAN — Jack Hughes slammed his stick on the ice during the United States’ power play in the semifinals. The Devils star had already scored his second goal of the tournament off an aggressive move the period prior, but he was demanding the puck again. It ricocheted off the end boards and right to Hughes, who buried it for a five-goal lead in Team USA’s eventual 6-2 win over Slovakia in the semifinals of the 2026 Olympics on Friday night.
Asked if he feels all the way back after the myriad injuries he’s battled through in recent years in the NHL, Hughes smiled. “I’ve felt all the way back the last bunch of years, ” he said. “I don’t know, I’ve had a lot of injuries, but I’m a hockey player. I think I’ve been playing well. I know everyone doesn’t watch the Devils every single night, but I love where I’m at and I’ve always believed in myself. I know the player I am. ” With three goals and three assists through six games, Hughes has steadily earned more responsibility for the Americans.
Line moves and coach’s plan
Jack started on the fourth line with Brock Nelson and J. T. Miller, but has since moved up to the left wing of the third unit next to Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson. Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan said the intention was to give Hughes more ice time so that he could impact the game more. The turnaround in Milan has been stark after a disappointing 4 Nations tournament, in which he recorded just one assist in four games and largely faded to the background in an overly physical slate of games. That has been far from the case since the 24-year-old arrived in Milan.
Quinn also praised his brother’s play after the semifinal: “Yeah, I mean he’s an elite player, ” Quinn said. “I feel like whenever he’s healthy he’s one of the best players in the world. Sometimes he doesn’t get enough credit for that. People forget what a great player he is. Really happy for him that he’s able to show it in this tournament. He’s very tough and competitive and is just happy to be here and accepted any role he could. I think in the second period, with the power plays and penalty kills he didn’t play a lot there, and he comes out and scores that goal and he’s ready to go no matter what. That’s just a testament to where his mentality is at right now. ”
College, draft and NHL moves
The brothers’ paths to the Olympics trace through different development routes. The eldest Hughes brother played college hockey at the University of Michigan from 2017 to 2019, was drafted seventh overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2018 and finished out his season at Michigan before joining the NHL. The defenseman was traded to the Minnesota Wild this past season. The middle Hughes brother was picked first overall in the 2019 NHL Draft and currently plays for the New Jersey Devils. He primarily plays forward, but also shifts to the wing at times, like he did during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Unlike his brothers Quinn and Luke, who both skated for the University of Michigan, Jack did not play college hockey and instead went directly to the NHL.
Quirks and public moments
Quinn is known for his haunting, blank stares while playing, a look that has launched humorous memes about him seeing Victorian ghosts. He addressed that wild theory earlier this week, explaining to the Boston Globe, “I’m usually pretty zoned in on what’s going on with myself and trying to get ready to do what I need to do. Sometimes you hear some funny stuff out there [on the ice]. ” He added: “But yeah, as the people say, I’m usually seeing ghosts, so I’m usually focused on myself. ”
As the U. S. advances through Milan Cortina, the Hughes brothers and their coach parents remain central figures in the team’s push for a medal.
