Team USA Claims Olympic Gold in Men’s Hockey, Defeating Canada in Overtime
MILAN – For the first time since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980, the U.S. Men’s national hockey team has reached the pinnacle of the sport, securing the Olympic gold medal with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Canada on Sunday. Jack Hughes scored the decisive goal, capping off a dramatic contest in Milan.
The win marks the third gold medal in men’s hockey for the United States, joining the triumphs of 1960 and 1980. Hughes, reportedly playing through a tooth injury sustained during the game, described the victory as a moment for the entire nation. “This is all about our country right now,” Hughes said, according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. “I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The USA Hockey brotherhood is so strong.”
The gold medal game saw a standout performance from American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 41 shots. The victory is particularly meaningful for Hellebuyck, coming after a loss in the 4 Nations Face-Off Final last February.
A significant portion of the American success can be attributed to the strong presence of Boston University alumni. Five former Terrier skaters – Jack Eichel, Clayton Keller, Charlie McAvoy, Jake Oettinger, and Brady Tkachuk – played key roles in the gold medal run. They became the first BU men to win Olympic gold in 46 years, echoing the legacy of Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Jack O’Callahan, and Dave Silk from the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team.
Dick Rodenhiser, a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic hockey team, further extends the BU connection to all three of America’s Olympic gold medals in the sport.
The influence of Boston University extended beyond the players, with head coach Mike Sullivan and assistant coaches John Hynes and David Quinn all having ties to the program. Chris Drury and Chris Kelleher were also involved in the team selection process.
While the U.S. Celebrated gold, another Terrier made his mark on the tournament. Macklin Celebrini, the 2024 Hobey Baker Award winner, led all skaters in goals with five and finished second in overall points with 10 while playing for Canada, which ultimately took home the silver medal. Celebrini’s performance was highlighted by a dominant showing throughout the tournament, second only to Connor McDavid in total points.
Eichel finished the tournament with six points (two goals, four assists) and a plus-5 rating. Tkachuk recorded five points (three goals, two assists) and was a plus-7. McAvoy averaged 19:29 of ice time, the second-highest amount on the American team.
The success of American hockey extended to the women’s tournament as well, with Marie-Philip Poulin of Canada earning the tournament’s top forward honors and Andrea Brändli of Switzerland being named the top goaltender. Poulin became the all-time leading goal scorer in Olympic history during the tournament, while Brändli recorded an impressive 114 saves on 117 shots in the playoff rounds.
Poulin’s achievement of earning her fifth Olympic medal underscores her remarkable career, while Brändli’s performance helped lead Switzerland to a bronze medal victory over Sweden in overtime.
