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US men’s hockey team gold medalists Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski spoke about the origins of their American pride while celebrating their Olympic achievement.
Larkin and Werenski appeared on Pak Gazette Channel’s “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning, hours after celebrating their gold medal victory against Canada throughout Miami. The two talked about what it meant to them to represent the Stars and Stripes.
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Zach Werenski #8 and Dylan Larkin #21 of Team USA celebrate winning the gold medals after the team’s 2-1 overtime victory in 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 Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
“I think a lot of us played in the U.S. National Team Development Program… When we were there, you could put on the jersey every day for two years, before you were drafted. We went through training. We’re not military by any means, but they train us and they really instill some pride in you,” Larkin said. “Once you go through that, you take your shirt off… and every time you take it off, at least for me, I don’t know when I’m going to put it on next.
“So every time I get the opportunity to represent the United States of America, I put that jersey on, I’m all in. I love doing it, and it’s something special. I could talk all day about how great our country is. Just being home and seeing our friends and family, it’s just special.”
Auston Matthews (34) of the United States, Zach Werenski (8) of the United States and Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the United States hold up John Gaudreau’s jersey after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026. (Amber Searls/Image Images)
Werenski was asked if playing in other countries made him prouder to be an American.
“I think you’re right. I remember my first World Championship with him was in Slovakia. I was in Denmark, I was in the (Czech Republic) – these are all great countries, and you play in them, and it’s a lot of fun. The Olympics were in Italy, which is an incredible country,” he said. “When you come back here, you remember how great the United States of America is. And we love representing our country, we love wearing those colors.
“Like Dylan said, we learn about this from a young age. We’re allowed to live our dream because of the military: the people who serve, the first responders. It’s just an amazing country. It’s the best country in the world, and we love wearing these colors, and you definitely appreciate it when you go overseas and play.”
The United States celebrates after winning the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Stadium. (James Lang/Image Images)
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The U.S. men’s hockey team is expected to travel to Washington, D.C., to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night.
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