Jack Hughes loses two teeth but wins USA gold at 2026 Winter Olympics

American forward Jack Hughes scored the overtime winner as the United States beat Canada 2-1 to win the men’s ice hockey gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, capping a bruising night that cost him two front teeth.

The 24-year-old fired from the left face-off circle in overtime to secure the United States’ first Olympic men’s hockey gold since the famous 1980 “Miracle on Ice”, lifting Team USA hockey past Canada in a classic USA vs Canada showdown.

Hughes had earlier feared he might become the villain of the Olympic hockey final after accidentally striking a Canadian player with his stick late in the third period, sending himself to the penalty box at a critical moment.

“I pictured myself on Barstool being the guy that America hates because Canada scores on the power play,” Hughes said. “I was like, oh my God, here it comes.”

Instead, the USA hockey star produced one of the most memorable goals in recent American hockey history.

From penalty scare to golden hero

The winning moment came just over a minute into three-on-three overtime after Hughes returned to the ice following a line change in the men’s Olympics hockey gold medal game.

He first helped contain Canadian superstar Connor McDavid, whom Hughes described as “the best player in the world, maybe ever”, as the forward charged toward the US goal.

Moments later, the Americans transitioned quickly up the ice. Zach Werenski chased down a loose puck and slipped a precise pass to Hughes, who fired past Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington to win the USA men’s hockey final.

Binnington later said he expected Hughes to shoot high glove side, but the American instead beat him five-hole.

“That’s hockey,” Binnington said. “You’ve got to give him credit.”

Teeth lost, gold gained

Earlier in the hockey Olympics final, Hughes had taken a stick to the mouth from Canada’s Sam Bennett, leaving him bloodied and missing two teeth.

“I remember looking down at the ice and seeing two of my teeth,” Hughes said. “I was like, here we go again.”

Despite the injury, the Jack Hughes hockey star finished the tournament strongly, tying for the US men’s hockey team lead with seven points and scoring three combined goals across the semi-final and gold medal match.

US coach Mike Sullivan praised the forward’s impact on the USA Olympic hockey run.

“Jack was at the centre of a lot of the good things that happened for our team,” Sullivan said. “He’s a high-stakes player and he brought his very best when the stakes were highest.”

Hellebuyck’s heroics keep US alive

American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was also pivotal, turning away 41 of 42 shots under heavy Canadian pressure to force overtime in the Olympic men’s hockey final.

“He stole the game for us,” forward Tage Thompson said.

Teammate Dylan Larkin added that the netminder “should never have to buy a drink in the state of Michigan”.

The victory was particularly sweet for the United States, which had previously fallen short against Canada in key Olympic meetings in 2002, 2010 and 2014.

For Hughes, the night ended in the most memorable way possible at the Winter Olympics.

He lost two teeth. He gained Olympic gold.