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Jack Hughes walked so Jack Hughes could run.
The New Jersey Devils star is America’s hero after scoring the golden goal against Canada in Sunday’s Olympic final. It was the USA’s first gold medal since 1980, cementing the “Miracle on Ice”.
But as the 2004 film “Miracle” has skyrocketed in streams over the past few weeks, fans have noticed an eerie coincidence.
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Team USA hero Jack Hughes shares the name of a player who was cut from the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team. (Gregory Shamus, Steve Babineau/Getty Images)
The movie features a player named Jack Hughes who is cut from the Olympic team in 1980. While plenty of movies based on true stories are dramatized, this actually happened.
Jack Hughes was a member of the US national team while playing for Harvard and tried out for the 1979 Olympics but was cut.
In another wild case, the elder Hughes played 46 games for the Colorado Rockies, who became the Devils.
The Devils moved from Colorado in 1982 after six seasons – they were formerly the Kansas City Scouts from 1974 to 1976.
USA’s Jack Hughes (86), who scored the winning overtime goal, celebrates after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Colorado’s hockey team is now the Avalanche, formerly the Quebec Nordiques from 1972 to 1995.
The two men are not related.
The newer Jack Hughes has lived up to the billing as the 2019 No. 1 overall pick. Drafted by the Devils out of the United States National Team Development Program, Hughes has played in two All-Star Games and was also on last year’s 4 Nations team. His older brother, Quinn, scored an overtime goal against Sweden to advance the U.S. to the semifinals, and his younger brother, Luke, is also on the Devils. There has been much speculation that Quinn could join the Devils as a free agent.
The only thing keeping Hughes from going to the next level has been injuries — he even missed time with nerve damage earlier this season from what was called a “freak accident” at a Chicago steakhouse.
Jack Hughes of the United States celebrates with his national flag after scoring their second goal in overtime to win gold on February 22, 2026. (REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo)
But now the whole world knows his name. And the one who came before him.
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