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New Jersey Devils star and Olympic gold medalist Jack Hughes has clarified his comments on the status of the gold medal-winning puck after his initial remarks sparked a frenzy involving the Toronto Hockey Hall of Fame.
In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Hughes expressed his disappointment when he learned the Olympic puck was now on display in the Canadian museum.
Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils skates during warmups before the NHL regular season game at the Prudential Center on February 25, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images)
“I’m trying to get it. It’s bullshit…the Hockey Hall of Fame has it, in my opinion. Why would they have that puck?” he said the socket.
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“I wouldn’t even want it for myself,” he explained. “I would want it for my dad. I know he would love to have it. When I look back on my career, I don’t collect a lot of things for myself, but my dad is a monster collector for all three of us. I know he would have a special place for it.”
The irony of the puck residing in Canada was not lost on fans, as Team USA beat Team Canada for the top spot on the podium.
Jack Hughes of the United States celebrates with his national flag after scoring his second goal in overtime to win gold on February 22, 2026. (Reuters/Alessandro Garofalo)
HOCKEY HALL OF FAME GIVES JACK HUGHES HARD NEWS ON OLYMPIC GOLDEN GOAL PUCK REQUEST
Following Hughes’ honest reaction to learning the puck was donated by the International Ice Hockey Federation, Philip Pritchard, vice president of the resource center and curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame, told ESPN that the puck “was never Jack’s property.”
A few days after those exchanges, Hughes clarified his comments, telling reporters that the Hall of Fame is “the most special place in hockey.”
“It’s obviously an honor that the pucks are there. It’s like the most special place in hockey, so I’m honored that it’s there,” he admitted. “Obviously I think things have been taken – you know, it’s crazy.
Jack Hughes during the men’s hockey match between the United States and Slovakia on day fourteen of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
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“That’s exactly how I felt, and I didn’t know where the puck was. So, that’s how it is.”
The United States won gold in men’s, women’s and Paralympic sledge hockey, beating Canada in each final to win all three for the first time in the same year. Megan Keller scored the women’s golden goal, also in overtime, and that puck was also donated to the Hall of Fame.
