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If there’s one photo that embodies the true definition of blood, sweat and tears, it’s the one taken of Jack Hughes shortly after winning Olympic gold.
After scoring in overtime against Canada to give the United States its first Olympic gold medal since 1980, Hughes had an American flag draped over his shoulder, complete with a bloodied smile and missing teeth from a high stick that he hit in the face minutes before finding the back of the net.
It became one of those photos that contains infinite words, let alone a thousand.
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Jack Hughes of Team USA celebrates after his gold medal during the men’s gold medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Hughes’ American glory, however, was no accident. Since his teenage years, Hughes was touted as a prized prospect on the hockey rink.
Hughes was just 17 years old and a senior in the National Team Development Program (NTDP) when he played for the U.S. Junior World Championship team in 2019, a team typically filled with college stars. His 228 points on the NTDP, which features top picks, All-Stars and future Hall of Famers as alumni, remains a record.
Born in Orlando, Florida, Hughes grew up in Toronto before his family moved to Michigan for the NTDP. Hughes’ father is a former NHL assistant coach and his mother played for the women’s national team and is now part of its player development program.
Gold medalists Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes of Team USA celebrate after the men’s gold medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Grégory Shamus/Getty Images)
Hughes’ older brother, Quinn, scored an overtime goal against Sweden to take the United States to the semifinals, and his younger brother, Luke, is also on the Devils. There has been widespread speculation that Quinn could join the Devils as a free agent.
He parlayed his success in junior hockey into becoming the No. 1 pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2019 and jumped straight into the NHL, forgoing college.
Hughes has appeared in two All-Star Games and was also part of last year’s 4 Nations team. The only thing that has kept Hughes from getting to the next level is injuries – he even missed time with nerve damage earlier this season following what was dubbed a “freak accident” at a Chicago steakhouse.
Since his appearance in 2021-22, Hughes has scored 135 goals and accumulated 200 assists in 287 matches played.
Jack Hughes (86) of the United States poses with teammates after a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, February 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
However, no goal has ever been more important than the one he scored Sunday, accepting a pass and beating Canada’s Jordan Binnington to win the gold medal and make him an American hero forever.
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