US tops Canada 2–1 in OT for 1st Olympic men’s hockey gold since 1980
USA's players celebrate after winning the men's gold medal ice hockey match between Canada and USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on February 22, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA
MILAN - The United States defeated Canada 2–1 in overtime to capture its first Olympic men’s hockey gold medal since the "Miracle on Ice" team triumphed in 1980.
Jack Hughes scored the winning goal just 1 minute, 41 seconds into the first extra period.
USA hockey
By the numbers:
It is the third Olympic title in men’s hockey for the U.S.
The backstory:
The United States has won the Olympic gold medal two other times in men’s hockey, both times at home — in the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics and the "Miracle on Ice" in the 1980 Lake Placid Games.
Side note:
The American women beat Canada 2-1 in overtime on Thursday for the other hockey gold.
2026 Winter Olympics
What's next:
The win happened on the final day of the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The day will end with the closing ceremony, which will celebrate Italian music and dance, both classic and contemporary, headlining internationally acclaimed ballet dancer Roberto Bolle along with popular Italian singer Achille Lauro and DJ Gaby Ponte.
Jack Hughes teeth
Meanwhile:
Jack Hughes lost some teeth before he won Olympic gold for the U.S. He took a stick to the mouth from Sam Bennett in the third period.
The 24-year-old Hughes is a forward for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL. He scored past Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington after a little more than 1 1/2 minutes of extra time.
Johnny Gaudreau tribute
Team USA pose for a team photo with Johnny Gaudreau's children during the Ice Hockey Men's Gold Medal Game match between Canada and USA on day sixteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February
Big picture view:
Johnny Gaudreau's No. 13 jersey was hanging in the U.S. locker room throughout the Olympics, and Dylan Larkin and Matthew Tkachuk carried it around the ice after their win Sunday.
The oldest two of Johnny and Meredith Gaudreau's three children were in attendance, along with their grandparents, Guy and Jane, and they got to be part of the celebration. Larkin and Werenski brought 3-year-old Noa and 2-year-old Johnny Jr. on the ice for the team photo, which also had Gaudreau's jersey in it. To a man, players said he should have been with them.
READ MORE: NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, brother struck and killed while riding bikes in New Jersey
The backstory:
An elite player a decade into his NHL career and the all-time U.S. leading scorer in international play, Johnny Gaudreau was on track to be in Milan.
He and his brother, Matthew, died in August 2024 when they were struck by an SUV while riding bicycles near their hometown in New Jersey on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding.
What they're saying:
"He obviously would have been on this team — and been a huge part of it," forward J.T. Miller said. "A guy I grew up with and against and knew pretty well. It’s more than hockey, at that point. ... He deserved better, and he had a big part in how things went down today."
The Source: Information in this article was taken from the game results on Feb. 22, 2026, as reported on by The Associated Press. Background information was also taken from The Associated Press.