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If there’s one photo that sums up 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 since 1980, Hughes had an American flag over his shoulder, a bloodied smile and missing teeth from a high stick that hit him in the face minutes before finding the back of the net.
It has become one of those photographs that has infinite words, let alone a thousand.
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Jack Hughes of Team USA celebrates after winning the gold medal during the men’s gold medal match between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Hughes’s American glory did not come by chance, however. Since he was a teenager, 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 US World Junior Championship team in 2019, a team usually made up of college stars. His 228 points in the NTDP, which features top picks, All-Stars and future Hall of Famers as alumni, remains a record.
Born in Orlando, Florida, Hughes actually grew up in Toronto before his family moved to Michigan for the NTDP. Hughes’ father is a former NHL assistant coach and her mother played for the women’s national team and is now part of their 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 Olympic Winter Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Hughes’ older brother, Quinn, scored an overtime goal against Sweden to lead the United States to the semifinals, and his younger brother, Luke, is also with the Devils. There has been a lot of speculation that Quinn could join the Devils as a free agent.
He parlayed his success in junior hockey into becoming the No. 1 overall pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2019 and jumped straight to the NHL, forgoing college.
Hughes was a two-time All-Star and was also on last year’s 4 Nations team. The only thing that has kept Hughes from moving to the next level has been injuries; he even missed time with nerve damage earlier this season in what was called a “freak accident” at a Chicago steakhouse.
However, since breaking out in 2021-22, Hughes has scored 135 goals and racked up 200 assists in 287 games played.
Jack Hughes (86) of the United States poses with his 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, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
However, no goal has been as big as the one he scored on Sunday, taking a pass and beating Canadian Jordan Binnington to take home the gold and make him an American hero forever.
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