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John Wroblewski was overcome with emotion as Team USA women’s hockey star Megan Keller wrapped around a Canadian defenseman and scored the game-winning goal to give the Americans a gold medal Thursday.
The NBC broadcast captured tears streaming down Wroblewski’s face as his team celebrated an incredible moment for the sport and the country at the same time.
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Head Coach John Wroblewski of Team United States Megan Keller #5 of Team United celebrates the victory after the women’s ice hockey gold medal game between the USA and Canada (2-1 OT) on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 20, 19, Milan, Italy. (EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)
American Taylor Heise, who assisted on Keller’s goal, told Pakinomist Digital in a recent interview that it was a full-circle moment for her coach.
“I saw the video yesterday (Friday) and it just portrays him quite well,” she said. “He’s an emotional guy, but he coached a lot of men’s teams and it’s kind of his first women’s gig and we’ve taken him in with grace the last four years and I think he’s done wonders for this group and certainly a credit to me because I got cut at the last Olympics. He’s the first coach to give me that chance back. He knows I’m very grateful to him every day.
USA WOMEN’S HOCKEY GOLD MEDALIST TAYLOR HEISE OPENS UP ON WHAT IT MEANS TO PLAY FOR TEAM USA
United States head coach John Wroblewski and Laila Edwards (10) celebrate after beating Canada in the women’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
“We hadn’t really been able to chat with him after. We had a lot of media and everything, but we’re grateful to him. He’s a guy who deserves the world because he believed in all of us and gave all these young girls a chance to emerge, and I think he picked the right 23 girls to be here.”
Wroblewski played in the ECHL and the American Hockey League (AHL) and coached for the Team USA Developmental Program and the AHL’s Ontario Reign before taking over the 2022 Olympic Women’s Team.
Heise, who will go on to play in the professional women’s hockey league for the Minnesota Frost, is now something few can become – a gold medalist.
USA’s Grace Zumwinkle, left, and Taylor Heise celebrate after the women’s ice hockey victory ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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“It’s amazing,” she said. “It’s definitely a goal of mine that I’ve had for a very long time and to now make it come true was definitely one of the last things on my list that I wanted to cross off. It’s just an incredible experience and the team that I got to do it with is extremely special and one of the most talented teams I’ve ever seen.”
