Jack Hughes quite literally left teeth on the ice before delivering one of the most iconic goals in recent Olympic history.
The 24-year-old forward, who sealed a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the men’s hockey final at the Milan Cortina Winter Games, played through a brutal third-period collision that cost him several teeth. Hughes took a stick to the mouth from Sam Bennett and was seen spitting blood as the game intensified.
Recalling the shocking moment after Team USA secured its first men’s hockey gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” Hughes revealed just how surreal the incident felt.
“I looked on the ice and saw my teeth,” said Hughes. “I was like, ‘Here we go again.’”
It wasn’t his first dental misfortune. Hughes previously lost a tooth during an NHL game, but this time the stakes were far greater — an Olympic final against a fierce Canadian side.
Overtime heroics define the night
Despite the injury, Jack Hughes returned to the ice and etched his name into Olympic history. Just over 1 1/2 minutes into overtime, the New Jersey Devils star beat Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington to clinch gold for the United States.
The dramatic finish capped off a gritty performance from the Americans, who had not claimed Olympic gold in men’s hockey since 1980. Hughes’ decisive strike instantly became the defining image of the 2026 Games for Team USA.
His older brother and teammate, Quinn Hughes, praised Jack’s relentless competitive spirit.
“No one loves the game more than him,” Quinn said about Jack. “He’s got so much passion. He’s a gamer. He made it happen.”
‘Medal over teeth’: Teammates react
While losing teeth is almost a rite of passage in hockey, the timing of Jack Hughes’ injury only added to the legend of the night. Yet inside the victorious locker room, sympathy was in short supply.
“Who cares at this point, to be honest?” said Matt Boldy, who scored the other U.S. goal early in the game. “I think more people are looking at his medal than his teeth. I’m sure he’ll be OK.”
For Hughes, the pain was temporary — the gold medal is forever. His battered smile now stands as a symbol of resilience, sacrifice, and Olympic glory.