Ellen Hughes' Dallas roots shine as sons Jack and Quinn lift U.S. to 2026 Olympic gold
ellen hughes — the mother of Jack and Quinn Hughes — has been part of the conversation after the United States won the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey gold, with Jack scoring the game-winning goal in the gold medal game and Quinn delivering a game-winning overtime goal against Sweden in the quarterfinals.
Ellen Hughes' North Texas beginnings
Ellen Weinberg-Hughes grew up in Dallas and played both hockey and soccer throughout her childhood there. She was part of the Dallas Sting Soccer Club in the 1980s and was on the Sting team that won the first FIFA-sanctioned world women’s tournament in Xi’an, China, in 1984 — a tournament that helped lead to the creation of the first women’s World Cup in 1991. Fans noted her North Texas ties after her sons’ Olympic success.
From youth hockey to international medals
In 1981, a 12-year-old Ellen Weinberg-Hughes was featured on KXAS-TV (NBC5) as she suited up for her Dallas youth hockey team; one of the team’s coaches was her father, Dr. Warren A. Weinberg. “It’s just a goal I want to reach, ” Weinberg-Hughes said in that interview, expressing a desire to play hockey at a professional level. She continued to play multiple sports at the University of New Hampshire from 1988-91 and later played for the United States women’s hockey team, earning a silver medal at the 1992 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Finland.
Sons’ shots sealed a 2026 U. S. gold
For the first time since 1980, the United States secured an Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey on Sunday. Quinn Hughes provided a game-winning overtime goal as the U. S. defeated Sweden in the quarterfinals, and Jack Hughes scored the winning goal in the U. S. -Canada gold medal matchup. Those moments bookended a tournament in which the Hughes brothers were central to the U. S. run.
Devils' return from the Olympic break and reactions
Back at the New Jersey Devils’ practice as the team returned from an extended Olympic break, players and staff relayed their reactions. Head coach Sheldon Keefe shared his thoughts on Jack Hughes’s game-winning goal at the Olympics and discussed the plan for the team as it prepares to resume the NHL schedule. Luke Hughes was back at practice and also spoke about his family’s accomplishments at the 2026 Olympics, and Luke offered commentary on Jack’s game-winning OT goal that secured the gold.
Teammates and staff added their voices: Brett Pesce commented on Jack Hughes scoring the game-winning goal for the Americans; Dillon shared his thoughts on seeing Simon Nemec excel at the Olympics; Cody Glass discussed the upcoming return to play after the Olympic break; Jake Allen spoke about the upcoming final stretch of the season; and Connor Brown described what it’s like to be back after the extended Olympic break. Jesper Bratt was back at practice after his time in Milan at the Olympics, and former Devils captain Andy Greene suited up and hit the ice with his former team to help out at practice.
Weinberg-Hughes’ wider Olympic involvement and family ties
ellen hughes — cited in several reports under her full name, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes — was busy during the Milan Cortina Olympic Games, serving as a player development consultant for the U. S. women’s hockey team. That role let her celebrate the U. S. women’s gold medal a few days before her sons Jack and Quinn helped the U. S. men to their title. Her husband, Jim, was also a hockey player who previously held a front-office role with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Weinberg-Hughes has said her best friend on the Sting Soccer Club was Carla Overbeck, and she can be seen in the Sting team photo from the era.
Team events, memories and what’s next
The Devils also marked a lighter note off the ice with the team’s annual Sweep the Deck gala, where Brodeur discussed Canada’s goalies and Elias shared his “small pants” Olympic injury story, and Arseny Gritsyuk toured the event for the first time with Amanda Stein. Coach Keefe provided an update on Luke Hughes while outlining the club’s return-to-play plan. The immediate next step: the Devils will resume their NHL schedule following the Olympic break, with practices and the regular-season slate set to continue as the club moves forward.
