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If Jack Hughes wants to see the puck of the greatest goal of his life, he’ll have to travel to Toronto to see it.
The New Jersey Devils star turned U.S. Olympic hockey hero called out the Hockey Hall of Fame and said they were “bulls—” that they had the puck that found the back of the net off Hughes’ stick to give the United States its first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980.
“I’m trying to get it… Why would they have that record?” Hughes told ESPN.
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Jack Hughes of the United States celebrates scoring the winning goal in overtime during the men’s gold medal game against Canada at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Stadium during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Well, they have it because it was donated after the game by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
“Unfortunately, in the simplest of words, it was never Jack’s puck,” Philip Pritchard, vice president of the resource center and curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame, told ESPN in response to Hughes. “It’s already been donated to us. For every artifact that’s been donated, we have a paper trail and signed documentation indicating where it came from.”
NHL players are often allowed to keep pucks and equipment when big moments occur in NHL games, but in most international tournaments, including the Olympics, an on-ice official is in charge of collecting what becomes memorabilia and handing it to an off-ice official for identification, who will then give it to the IIHF for donation.
The gold medalists of the US men’s hockey team have irritated liberal pundits and news organizations despite captivating the nation with their Olympic achievement. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
JACK HUGHES REFLECTS ON NEW FAME SINCE THE OLYMPICS, INCLUDING SUPPORT FROM RIVAL FANS
“The items are formally transferred to the Hall through the artifact donation process established by the IIHF and added to our permanent collection. These artifacts are preserved, displayed and shared with fans around the world through our museum and international outreach programs, ensuring that defining moments from the Olympic and World Championships are preserved and remain accessible to the global hockey community,” the Hall of Fame said in a statement.
The Hall of Fame had staff available in Milan to assist in the donation process. Megan Keller’s golden goal, scored three days before Hughes’, is also in the Hall of Fame.
“I wouldn’t even want it for myself,” he explained. “I would want it for my dad. I know he would love it, he would love to have it,” Hughes said of the record. When I look back on my career, I don’t collect too many things for myself, but my dad is a monster collector for the three of us. “I know I would have a special place for it.”
Jack Hughes of the United States celebrates with the American flag after scoring his second goal in overtime to win gold on February 22, 2026. (Reuters/Alessandro Garofalo)
Hughes said he would formally contact the Hall, which has given away items to players in the past.
