Jack Hughes says puck from U.S. Olympic men's hockey gold-medal goal held by Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto
Authored by betgiris.xyz, 19/03/2026
Jack Hughes, center for the NHL's New Jersey Devils, scored the overtime winning goal for the United States in the men's ice hockey gold-medal final against Canada at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.[1][2] The victory on February 22, 2026, at Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, marked the first U.S. men's Olympic hockey gold since the 1980 Lake Placid Games.[3]
Hughes expressed frustration that the game puck is now in the collection of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. "Why would they have that puck?" he told ESPN, calling the situation "bulls---."
The International Ice Hockey Federation donated the puck to the Hockey Hall of Fame following the game, as is standard for significant memorabilia from IIHF-sanctioned events including the Olympics. Philip Pritchard, vice president of the resource center and curator for the Hockey Hall of Fame, responded to ESPN: "Unfortunately, in the easiest words, it was never Jack's puck to own. It's been donated to us now."
In contrast to NHL games, where players often keep pucks from personal milestones, international tournaments like the Olympics involve on-ice officials collecting key pucks for IIHF identification and donation. Hockey Hall of Fame staff were present in Milan to facilitate the process. The puck from U.S. women's player Megan Keller's golden goal three days earlier is also in the Hall's collection.
"Items are formally transferred to the Hall through IIHF's established artifact donation process and added into our permanent collection," the Hockey Hall of Fame said in a statement. "These artifacts are preserved, exhibited and shared with fans worldwide."
Hughes, who does not collect many personal items, said he wants the puck for his father, a avid collector of memorabilia for his three sons. He plans to formally contact the Hall of Fame, which has returned items to players in the past.
Sources
- NHL.com
Jack Hughes - Stats, News, Rumors, Bio, Video - New Jersey Devils
Accessed October 2024
https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/jack-hughes-8480027 - Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee
Santa Giulia Arena
Accessed October 2024
https://olympics.milanocortina2026.org/en/venues/santa-giulia-arena/ - Wikipedia
Ice hockey at the Olympic Games - Men
Accessed October 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_Olympic_Games#Men - NHL.com
NHL announces participation in 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy
29 December 2023
https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-announces-participation-in-2026-olympic-winter-games-in-italy-345432102 - Hockey Hall of Fame
Homepage
Accessed October 2024
https://www.hhof.com/