Team USA’s Golden Overtime: Jack Hughes Lifts America Past Canada As The Hughes Family Shares An Olympic Dream In Milano Cortina 2026

The U.S. men’s hockey team delivered what many are already calling its most unforgettable performance in nearly half a century, edging Canada 2–1 at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games on February 22.

With an overtime victory over their longtime rivals, Team USA captured its first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980 — the year of the historic “Miracle on Ice” against the Soviet Union.

The golden goal came off the stick of New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes, who buried a stunning shot to clinch the championship and etch his name into Olympic history.

Because it was sudden-death overtime, the contest ended the instant Hughes’ shot found the back of the net — less than two minutes into the extra frame — triggering an eruption on the ice.

Hughes undoubtedly has a long and successful NHL career ahead of him, but it is difficult to imagine a moment more iconic than what he produced on February 22.

He immediately celebrated with his brother Quinn, a standout defenseman for Team USA, making the triumph even more personal.

And the Hughes brothers were far from alone in witnessing the historic night.

Their mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes — a Player Development Consultant for the U.S. women’s hockey team and an Olympic gold medalist in her own right at these Games — along with their father, Jim Hughes, were also in attendance.

Shortly after the final horn, the NHL’s X account shared a photo of the entire Hughes family embracing, captioned, “What a moment for the Hughes Family ♥️”.

Without question, it has been an extraordinary stretch of days for the Hughes family.

Ellen Hughes Is the Mother of NHL Star Jack Hughes

Jack Hughes has emerged as one of the NHL’s brightest young talents, and his success is rooted in a family steeped in athletic excellence.

His mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, raised Jack and his brothers, Quinn and Luke, in a home defined by competition, discipline, and a deep love of sport.

But Ellen’s connection to elite athletics goes far beyond supporting her sons — she built an impressive career of her own long before they reached professional hockey.

Raised in Dallas, Texas, Ellen excelled in both hockey and soccer. As a teenager, she competed with the renowned Dallas Sting Soccer Club.

In 1984, the Sting made international headlines by winning a FIFA-sanctioned women’s world tournament in Xi’an, China — a landmark achievement in the history of women’s soccer.

She went on to attend the University of New Hampshire, where she continued her multi-sport journey, competing in soccer, lacrosse, and hockey.

Ellen later represented the United States at the 1992 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Finland, earning a silver medal on the world stage.

Although her playing career concluded before women’s hockey debuted at the Olympics, her commitment to the sport never faded.

Today, Ellen is recognized not only as Jack Hughes’ mother but also as a respected contributor to U.S. hockey development.

In 2023, she joined the U.S. women’s national team as a player development consultant.

She played a role in guiding the program to multiple World Championship titles and later served on staff during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

That experience carried special meaning, as Ellen and her sons were all part of the same Olympic Games.

Jack and Quinn helped propel Team USA to its first men’s Olympic hockey gold medal since 1980 — with Quinn delivering a dramatic overtime winner in the quarterfinals and Jack sealing the championship with the decisive goal in the final.