"The United States has not won an Olympic gold in men's hockey since 1980," actor Kurt Russell said in the intro video to the game Sunday. "46 years have gone by treasuring a miracle. Wouldn't you say it's about time to celebrate something else?"
After 61 minutes of play in Milan's PalaItalia arena, the gold medal game was in overtime, and the score was 1-1. Canada had the puck and was skating toward the U.S. goalie when Team USA stole it and took it the other way.
"Jack Hughes wins it!" NBC's Kenny Albert announced. "The golden goal for the United States!"
This is the first U.S. hockey gold since the so-called "Miracle on Ice" over the Soviet Union nearly 50 years ago.
In Team USA's immediate celebration, something deeper appeared to be at play; the players seemed to genuinely love America.
Jack Hughes was interviewed shortly after he scored the golden goal, before joining his teammates in singing Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue" in the locker room.
His teeth missing from an in-game injury, he said, "I'm so proud to be an American today."
"This is all about our country right now," he added. "I love the USA. I love my teammates. It's unbelievable. The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong."
Back in the States, while the Left focuses on the evils of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) doing its job and Democrats call the president every name in the book—inspiring yet another assassination attempt over the weekend—Hughes' declaration of love for the USA gave Americans permission to be openly patriotic for the first time in a long time.
At the conclusion of 2026 Winter Olympics, the U.S. finished second in golds and total medals (33), marking its most successful Winter Olympics ever.
