Ellen Hughes has Dallas roots as her sons deliver U.S. men’s Olympic hockey gold
ellen hughes, the mother of Jack and Quinn Hughes, has deep ties to Dallas — a city that watched her play youth hockey and soccer — as her sons finished the job for the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics: Quinn with a quarterfinal overtime winner over Sweden and Jack with the game-winning goal against Canada that sealed the gold.
Ellen Hughes's North Texas beginnings
Ellen Weinberg-Hughes grew up in Dallas and played both hockey and soccer throughout her childhood. At age 12 in 1981 she was featured on KXAS-TV as she suited up for a Dallas youth hockey team coached in part by her father, Dr. Warren A. Weinberg. In that interview she said, “It’s just a goal I want to reach, ” describing her aim to play hockey at a professional level.
From the Dallas Sting to world tournaments
Weinberg-Hughes was also a standout on the soccer field. She played for the Dallas Sting Soccer Club in the 1980s and was part of the Sting team that won the first FIFA-sanctioned world women’s tournament in Xi’an, China, in 1984. That Xi’an tournament later helped shape the development of the first women’s World Cup in 1991. NBC earlier this year said her best friend on the Sting was Carla Overbeck.
College, national team and a life in hockey
Weinberg-Hughes 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. Her husband, Jim, also played hockey and previously held a front-office role with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
How the Hughes brothers delivered in Milan Cortina
For the first time since 1980, the United States secured an Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey. Across the 2026 tournament Jack and Quinn Hughes were central: Quinn’s overtime goal knocked off Sweden in the quarterfinals, and Jack scored the winning goal in the gold-medal game versus Canada. Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe shared his thoughts on Jack Hughes’s game-winning goal at the Olympics, and teammates reacted as well — Brett Pesce commented on Jack’s goal for the Americans, and Luke Hughes reflected on his family’s accomplishments at the 2026 Olympics.
Devils return from the Olympic break
The New Jersey Devils have been regrouping since the Olympic pause. Luke Hughes was back at practice as the team returned from an extended break, and Jesper Bratt rejoined the group after his time in Milan. Former Devils captain Andy Greene hit the ice and suited up to help out at practice. Keefe discussed the plan for preparing to resume the NHL schedule and provided an update on Luke Hughes.
Voices in the locker room and offseason events
Several players shared thoughts as the club refocused: Dillon commented on watching Simon Nemec excel at the Olympics; Cody Glass talked about the upcoming return to play after the Olympic break; Jake Allen offered perspective on the final stretch of the season; and Connor Brown described what it was like to be back after the break. The club also highlighted its annual Sweep the Deck gala, where Arseny Gritsyuk toured the event with Amanda Stein, and veterans traded stories — Brodeur spoke about Canada’s goalies and Elias recounted his “small pants” Olympic injury story.
said Weinberg-Hughes served as a player development consultant for the U. S. women’s hockey team at the Milan Cortina Games, allowing her to celebrate the U. S. women’s gold a few days before her sons helped the U. S. men win theirs.
Keefe discussed plans as the Devils prepare to resume their NHL schedule; with Luke Hughes back at practice and several Olympic-returning players in the room, the team is moving toward the next step on its calendar: returning to NHL play following the Olympic break.
