For those of us old enough to remember the stunning victory of the 1980 US Men’s Hockey team against Russia in Lake Placid to win the gold medal, Sunday’s victory by the US over Canada seemed like a trip down memory lane. In fact, no other American team since the 1980 “Miracle On Ice” has captured an Olympic gold medal in hockey. It has been a long 46 years since we heard the passionate and patriotic chants of “USA! USA,” by American hockey fans.
The 2026 US Men’s Hockey team did not disappoint with a hard-fought game that went into overtime. Some argue that the Canadian team was more skilled, taking a total of 42 shots on goal, with 27 from the slot and 17 from the inner slot. For those of you who are not familiar with hockey jargon, the “slot” is the offensive area of the ice between the face-off circles and the goal, and the “inner slot” is right in front of the goal. This is typically the hardest place to defend and where most goals are scored. By contrast, the US only had 26 total shots on goal. So it is apparent that Canada had the upper hand and controlled the puck for most of the game.
But there are always some intangibles in sports that can alter an expected outcome. One of those was the performance of the US goalie, Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck made an amazing 41 saves out of 42 shots – allowing only 1 goal. Some of the saves he made appeared to be unreal as the puck was seemingly headed into the crease, only to be deflected at the last minute by his stick or leg.
Another intangible was the grit and determination of one of the forwards, Jack Hughes. Hughes scored the winning goal in overtime. This was after he had several teeth knocked out by a high stick from Canada’s Sam Bennett in the third period. Hughes refused medical care and continued playing as blood poured down from his mouth. Hughes finished the Olympic tournament as the leading scorer for the US team.
Both Hellebuyck and Hughes were playing for more than just themselves. They were playing for pride and love of their country. They were both willing to take a physical beating to serve the greater good of their teammates, their coaches, and the American people. Although we cannot know their political leanings, we do know they are true patriots. Hellebuyck was seen skating around wearing an American flag after the victory.
Hughes made this heartfelt and toothless statement at the end of the game, “This is all about our country right now. I love the USA, I love my teammates … the USA hockey brotherhood is so strong. I’m so proud to be American tonight.” Their actions are in stark contrast to those of Olympic athletes who were supposed to be representing the USA on the world stage, but instead were bashing our country while they trained and traveled on the taxpayers’ dime.
The US Men’s hockey team also played in honor of one of their deceased teammates, Johnny Gaudreau, who tragically passed away in 2024 at the age of 31. Johnny and his brother Matthew (who was only 29 at the time) were struck by an SUV while riding their bicycles in New Jersey. This happened one day before their sister’s wedding. Gaudreau’s jersey was hung in their locker room the entire tournament. During the gold medal ceremony, a few teammates held his jersey up and invited his wife and children onto the ice to celebrate with them.
So it is fitting that this band of American brothers pulled off an upset of sorts, and good for them. Incredible things can happen when we put aside our own selfish ways, work for the common good, and express gratitude for the vast opportunities our country offers. By no means is the United States perfect. However, no other country offers the inherent freedoms we possess and the promise that, if you work hard, sacrifice, and love your fellow man, you, too, can be successful. This serves as a good reminder for all of us.