MILAN (AP) — Jack Hughes’ overtime goal against Canada gave the United States its first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980 — and on the 46th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice,” no less.
Hughes, who had lost a tooth or two from a high hit during the game, scored off a pass from Zach Werenski early in 3-on-3 overtime to secure a 2-1 victory Sunday.
“The goal doesn’t matter. Just an incredible team, an incredible team victory.” Hughes stated. “We are very proud to win for our country.”
“The best experiences I have are playing for my country, playing to break the gold drought with this group of guys and for us to win gold here at the Olympics; just an incredible moment,” he added.
There was a tinge of sadness amidst the joy, as Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk carried a Johnny Gaudreau No. 13 jersey around the court as a tribute to the beloved player who was killed by a car in August 2024 along with his brother.
The Americans’ victory on Sunday was their 12th gold of the Milan-Cortina Games. The United States women’s hockey team also won gold — with a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the final.
Norway topped the final medal table with 18 golds and 41 medals in total, the best number in both categories.
Eileen Gu defends Olympic halfpipe title
Eileen Gu now has six medals in six in Olympic trials after another victory in halfpipe.
The 22-year-old athlete, born in the United States but who competes for China, where her mother is from, is already the most successful freestyle skier in the short history of this sport in the Olympic Games. He also won two silver medals at the Milan-Cortina Games, in addition to two golds and a silver at the Beijing Games.
Gu won his last test thanks to his second descent, a clean and technically sound pass. He did even better on his final downhill — pumping his ski poles after landing the final trick — and finished with a score of 94.75. Her teammate Li Fanghui took silver and Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin was third.
The test was rescheduled for Sunday after a major snow storm the night before.
Sweden’s big day
First, Ebba Andersson broke away from the pack to win the mass start 50km cross-country ski race and redeemed herself after her fall, which cost Sweden the gold medal in the team relay.
“I’ve dreamed of this day for a long time and it’s almost unbelievable that everything went according to plan,” Andersson said.
And then the Swedish women beat Switzerland to give the Scandinavian nation another curling gold.
Diggins concludes brilliant Olympic career
Jessie Diggins finished fifth in the mass start 50K cross-country ski race. Just a few seconds away from another medal.
And she feels satisfied.
“I can confidently say I couldn’t have tried harder or gotten more out of my body,” Diggins, 34, said.
It was the last Olympic test for an athlete who transformed American cross-country skiing and became a symbol of endurance.
Lochner bobsled sweeps
Germany’s Johannes Lochner added gold in the four-man bobsled event to his two-man title.
Lochner — who announced his retirement months ago — closed his career with his second gold medal of these Olympic Games, winning the four-man event over two-time defending Olympic champion Francesco Friedrich by 0.57 seconds.
“It’s like a dream. … It’s indescribable,” Lochner said. “A moment for eternity. A perfect closing, the most perfect closing of all.”
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