In a heroic Olympic moment that is sure to go down in history, Team USA hockey player Jack Hughes powered through a brutal injury to score the game-winning goal as the U.S. men beat Canada 2-1 in a battle for the gold medal.

Getty

The injury happened when Hughes was hit in the mouth with Canadian forward Sam Bennett’s stick, knocking out at least two of the 24-year-old’s front teeth and leaving him bleeding from the mouth. As the video shows, Hughes didn’t let the injury slow down his quest for Olympic glory.

Play

---

Jack Hughes Reflects on 1st Gold Medal for Team USA Men’s Hockey in 46 Years

Play

Immediately after the game, Hughes said, “This is all about our country right now. I love the USA, I love my teammates, it’s unbelievable! The USA Hockey brotherhood is so strong. And we had so much support from ex-players. I’m so proud to be American today.”

The Florida-born Toronto native who later moved to Michigan for the U.S. National Team Development Program went on to call the face-off an “unbelievable game by Hellebyck,” praising Team USA’s goalie. “He was our best player tonight by a mile. Unbelievable game. Unreal game by our team. Just a ballsy, gutsy win. That’s American hockey right there,” he added.

Hughes then called his opponents “a great Canadian team,” before saying, “We’re USA. We’re so proud to be Americans. Tonight was all for the country.”

When asked what the gold medal means to USA Hockey, Hughes replied, “It’s everything. Like I said, the USA hockey brotherhood means so much. Looks at these guys. We’re such a team. We’ve been together for two weeks, we’re such a team! The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong, and we’re so proud to win for our country.”

He wrapped up the interview by saying, “I can’t even believe this. It’s such an unbelievable game. USA-Canada, that’s such a good game. They have so many great players. We’re a great team. That’s exactly how we wanted it to go. It could’ve gone either way tonight. It’s un unbelievable win for the Americans.”

---

Jack Hughes Has Sparked Dating Rumors With Canadian Singer Tate McRae

“You Broke Me First” singer Tate McRae, who was nominated for a Best Pop Dance Recording Grammy award in February, has stayed silent on the relationship rumors that have recently swirled around her and Hughes, but several clues have emerged that they might be an item.

In November 2025, Hughes and McRae were spotted having dinner together. Then on February 3, 2026, the pop star collaborated with NBC to post a social media promotion for the Winter Olympics. And a week before today’s gold medal game where Hughes and Team USA triumphed, McRae revealed in a social media post that she was in Paris, France. McRae’s presence in the city, which is 7-hour train ride from Milan where the Olympics took place, suggested she might be planning to quietly support Hughes in the event.