New Jersey Devils centre Jack Hughes scored the overtime game-winning goal for the United States in a victory over Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 22, 2026, at Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy.[1] The puck from that goal was donated to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada.
Hughes, who was selected first overall by the Devils in the 2019 NHL Draft, called the Hall's possession of the puck "bulls---" in an interview with ESPN.[2] "I'm trying to get it … Why would they have that puck?" he said. The goal marked the first U.S. men's Olympic hockey gold medal since the 1980 Lake Placid Games.[3]
Philip Pritchard, vice president of the resource centre and curator at the Hockey Hall of Fame, responded to ESPN that "it was never Jack's puck to own." He explained that the puck was donated through established procedures, with paperwork documenting its provenance.[4]
The International Ice Hockey Federation donated the puck after the game, as is standard in Olympic and other IIHF tournaments. On-ice officials collect milestone pucks, which are then transferred to the IIHF for preservation and donation to the Hall of Fame. Hall staff were present in Milan to facilitate the process. The puck from Megan Keller's golden goal in the women's final three days earlier was also donated.
Hughes said he would formally request the puck from the Hall, noting it would be for his father, a avid collector, rather than himself. The Hockey Hall of Fame stated that artifacts are preserved for public exhibition and outreach, and it has returned items to players in the past.
Sources
- International Olympic Committee. "Milano Cortina 2026 Venues: Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena." Accessed October 2024. https://olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/venues/santa-giulia-ice-hockey-arena/
- NHL.com. "Jack Hughes - New Jersey Devils - Player Profile." Accessed October 2024. https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/jack-hughes-8480025
- International Olympic Committee. "Olympic Winter Games Ice Hockey Medal Table." Accessed October 2024. https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/ice-hockey/results-men/
- Hockey Hall of Fame. "Philip Pritchard - The Keepers of the Cup." Accessed October 2024. https://www.hhof.com/page/pritchard-philip
