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If there’s one image that epitomizes the true definition of blood, sweat and tears, it’s the one taken by Jack Hughes shortly after winning Olympic gold.
After scoring in overtime against Canada to give the United States its first Olympic gold since 1980, Hughes had an American flag draped over his shoulder with a bloody smile and missing teeth from a high stick he took to the face minutes before finding the back of the net.
It has become one of those pictures that has infinite words, let alone a thousand.
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Jack Hughes of Team United celebrates after their gold medal win during the men’s gold medal match between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Hughes’s American glory did not come by accident, however. Ever since he was a teenager, Hughes was hailed as a valued customer on the hockey rink.
Hughes was just 17 years old and a senior at the National Team Development Program (NTDP) when he played for the 2019 U.S. World Junior Championship, a team usually made up of college stars. His 228 points at the NTDP, which features top picks, All-Stars and future Hall of Famers as alumni, remains a record.
Born in Orlando, Florida, Hughes actually grew up in Toronto before his family moved to Michigan for the NTDP. Hughes’ father is a former NHL assistant coach and his mother played for the women’s national team and is now part of its player development program.
Gold medalists Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes of Team United celebrate after the men’s gold medal match between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Hughes’ older brother, Quinn, scored an overtime goal against Sweden to send 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.
He parlayed his junior hockey success into becoming the No. 1 overall pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2019 and jumped right into the NHL out of college.
Hughes has played in two All-Star Games and was also on last year’s 4 Nations team. 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.
Since breaking out in 2021-22, however, Hughes has scored 135 goals and picked up 200 assists in 287 games.
USA’s Jack Hughes (86) poses with teammates after a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
However, no goal has ever been as big as the one he scored on Sunday, taking a pass and sneaking one past Canada’s Jordan Binnington to bring home the gold and make him an American hero forever.
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