Jack Hughes estimates he has watched his overtime goal against Canada about 50 times. The goal delivered Olympic gold to the U.S. men’s hockey team for the first time since 1980. With each viewing, he notices new aspects of the play.
“I just get nervous watching it. Like, what if it doesn’t go in this time?” he told ESPN last week.
The Celebration and Surreal Recognition
Hughes didn’t realise it was a goal until he saw Dylan Larkin sprinting at him to celebrate. It was a celebration 46 years in the making, marking the first time Team USA had won Olympic gold since 1980. He received a congratulatory message from Kurt Russell, who played Herb Brooks in the movie “Miracle”.
“It changed all of our lives. We’re champions. We’re Olympic gold medalists. To break that streak and win a gold medal, it bonds us forever,” Hughes said after returning from Milan. “It’ll never be about one person. It’s all about the USA Hockey brotherhood. We’re just such a team.”
Redirecting Praise to Team USA
Hughes has tried to redirect praise for his “golden goal” to his teammates. In the postgame interview after the win over Canada, Hughes gushed about the “ballsy, gutsy” win by his teammates. He mentioned goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who made 41 saves, as “our best player tonight by a mile”.
“It’ll never be about the ‘golden goal.’ It’ll be about our three weeks at the Olympics, that we’re champions, and what a special time it was,” Hughes said.
The Impact of the ‘Golden Goal’
The “golden goal” has had a significant impact since the team returned from Milan. Hughes has landed on morning talk shows and late-night comedy shows. His words carry significantly more consequence. He is getting cheers in places where he has been traditionally jeered. In one month, he has moved from hockey star to sports icon.
People who don’t talk about hockey are talking about Jack Hughes.
Think about the “Miracle on Ice” 1980 team: Mike Eruzione is the American sports legend for scoring the winner against the Russians, his name becoming synonymous with the “Miracle”.
The win changed all of their lives.