Jack Hughes, centre and captain of the NHL's New Jersey Devils, scored the overtime game-winning goal for the United States in a victory over Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 22, 2026, at Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy.[1][2] The goal marked the first U.S. men's Olympic hockey gold since the 1980 Lake Placid Games.[3]
Hughes expressed frustration that the puck from the goal is held by the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. "Bulls---," he told ESPN, questioning why the Hall has the puck. "I'm trying to get it … Why would they have that puck?"[4]
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) donated the puck to the Hall after the game, following standard procedure for championship artifacts in Olympic tournaments. Philip Pritchard, vice president of the resource centre and curator at the Hockey Hall of Fame, told ESPN: "Unfortunately, in the easiest words, it was never Jack's puck to own. It's been donated to us now. For every artifact that's been donated, we have a paper trail and signed paperwork of where it's come from."[4]
In Olympic and IIHF events, an on-ice official typically collects pucks and equipment from milestone moments for identification and donation, unlike NHL games where players often keep such items. The Hockey Hall of Fame stated that artifacts are preserved and exhibited for fans worldwide through its museum.[5] Staff from the Hall were present in Milan to facilitate the process; the puck from Megan Keller's women's golden goal three days earlier is also in the collection.
Hughes said he does not collect memorabilia himself but wants the puck for his father, a avid collector. He plans to formally contact the Hall, which has returned items to players in the past.
Sources
- NHL.com
Jack Hughes - New Jersey Devils Center
Accessed October 2024
https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/jack-hughes-8480025 - Olympics.com
Milano Cortina 2026 venues: Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena
Accessed October 2024
https://olympics.com/en/olympics/milano-cortina-2026/olympic-venues - IIHF.com
Milano Cortina 2026 - Men: Schedule
Publication date February 2026 (preliminary schedule confirmed)
https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/wm/tournament/schedule - ESPN.com
Main NHL sports page (reporting Hughes interview)
Accessed October 2024
https://www.espn.com/nhl/ - Hockey Hall of Fame
Resource Centre and artifact collection process
Accessed October 2024
https://www.hhof.com/?tab=resourcecentre
