Usa Men'S Hockey Team Wins Olympic Gold In Milano 2026

In a historic moment for American sports, the U.S. men's hockey team clinched their first Olympic gold medal in 46 years by defeating Canada 2-1 in an overtime thriller at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The decisive goal was scored by Jack Hughes just 1 minute and 41 seconds into overtime, marking a significant victory that echoes the legendary 'Miracle on Ice' of 1980. However, the celebratory atmosphere was soon overshadowed by political tensions, as the game fell on the anniversary of the original Miracle on Ice, drawing parallels complicated by recent U.S.-Canada relations. U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves against a Canadian team that outshot the Americans 42 to 28, while President Donald Trump praised the team's performance and invited them to the State of the Union address. The victory was also marked by an emotional tribute to the late hockey legend Johnny Gaudreau, with Team USA bringing his children onto the ice after the medal ceremony. U.S. coach Mike Sullivan remarked on the team's unique personality, saying, 'We were loaded with personality up and down our lineup.' Notably, the U.S. team achieved a record-breaking 12 gold medals at the Olympics, surpassing their previous high of 10 from 2002, and broke the 30-medal mark for the first time outside North America. The closing ceremony celebrated this milestone, with International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry calling the games a 'new kind of Winter Games.'