Entering the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, left wingers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk received the most attention for Team USA. However, it was another pair of brothers who became America’s biggest hockey heroes.
Days after 26-year-old defenseman Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild) scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Team Sweden in the quarterfinal, his younger brother had his Olympic moment.
In overtime of the gold-medal game against Team Canada on Sunday, 24-year-old center Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils) nailed the winning goal on an assist from defenseman Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets). The clutch shot secured a 2-1 win for Team USA and its first gold medal since the famed “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
It’s fitting that Jack and Quinn Hughes scored the two biggest shots for the Americans. The siblings played a key role in bringing the team together and helping it reach its goal.