New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, who scored the overtime game-winning goal for the United States in the men's ice hockey gold medal game against Canada at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, expressed frustration that the puck from the goal is held by the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Hughes, a 24-year-old American forward[1], called the situation "bulls---" in comments to ESPN, questioning, "I'm trying to get it. … Why would they have that puck?" The goal on Feb. 22, 2026, at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, secured the first U.S. men's Olympic hockey gold since the 1980 Lake Placid Games[2].
The puck was donated to the Hockey Hall of Fame by the International Ice Hockey Federation after the game. Philip Pritchard, the Hall's vice president of the resource center and curator, told ESPN: "Unfortunately, in the easiest words, it was never Jack's puck to own. It's been donated to us now. For every artifact that's been donated, we have a paper trail and signed paperwork of where it's come from."
In Olympic tournaments, on-ice officials typically collect pucks and gear for memorabilia, which are then transferred to the IIHF for donation. The Hockey Hall of Fame stated that items are preserved and exhibited for fans worldwide. Staff from the Hall were present in Milan to assist with the process. The puck from Megan Keller's women's golden goal three days earlier is also in the Hall's collection.
Hughes said he wants the puck for his father, a avid collector, adding, "I wouldn’t even want it for myself." He plans to formally contact the Hall, which has returned items to players in the past.
Sources
- NHL.com
Jack Hughes - New Jersey Devils
Accessed October 2024
https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/jack-hughes-8480020 - Olympics.com / Wikipedia
Ice hockey at the Olympics / Miracle on Ice
Accessed October 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_on_Ice
