Hall of Fame Retains Hughes’ ‘Golden Goal’ Puck
The Hockey Hall of Fame has announced it will not be giving Jack Hughes the puck from his gold-medal-winning goal for Team USA in the Milan Cortina Olympics. Philip Pritchard, the Hall of Fame’s vice president of the resource centre and curator, explained that “it was never Jack’s puck to own”.
Pritchard confirmed the puck had been donated to the Hall of Fame. He added that the Hall possesses “a paper trail and signed paperwork of where it’s come from” for every donated artifact.
Hughes scored against Canada goalie Jordan Binnington at 1:41 of overtime. His goal secured the U.S. men’s team’s first Olympic gold since 1980.
The “golden goal” puck, along with Megan Keller’s gold-medal-winning puck for the U.S. women’s team, are now on display at the Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Hughes Voices Disagreement
Hughes, a centre for the New Jersey Devils, believes the pucks should be given to the players who scored the goals. “I’m trying to get it,” Hughes said. “Like, that’s bulls— that the Hockey Hall of Fame has it, in my opinion. Why would they have that puck? I don’t see why Megan Keller or I shouldn’t have those pucks.”
He acknowledged the honour of having the puck in the hall. “It’s like the most special place in hockey,” he said. “So yeah, I’m honoured that it’s there. Obviously, I think things were taken crazy [this week]. That’s just the way I felt.”
Hall of Fame Explains Donation Process
The standard practice in the NHL is that players are allowed to keep pucks and gear from milestone moments. While the Hockey Hall of Fame often requests items, donation isn’t guaranteed.
However, international tournaments operate differently. The Olympic tournament was a joint effort between the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Pritchard stated that the IIHF has been responsible for collecting, authenticating, and preserving items from the Olympics and world championship tournaments since 1998. The Hall of Fame also had staff in Milan to assist.
- When a milestone goal occurs, an on-ice official retrieves the puck.
- An off-ice official then tapes the puck for identification.
- The puck is then given to the IIHF.
- The IIHF formally donates it to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame stated that items are formally transferred through the IIHF’s artifact donation process and added to their permanent collection. “These artifacts are preserved, exhibited and shared with fans worldwide through our museum and international outreach programs, ensuring that defining Olympic and World Championship moments are preserved, and remain accessible to the global hockey community,” the Hall of Fame said.
Since 1998, the IIHF has handled the collection, authentication and preservation of items from the Olympics and world championship tournaments.