MILAN, ITALY — Just hours after etching his name into the history books with a “Golden Goal” that ended a 46-year drought for Team USA, Jack Hughes was spotted out and about, appearing in high spirits despite a bloodied grin and a grueling recovery from earlier season surgeries.
The 24-year-old New Jersey Devils sensation, who has become the face of American hockey, was seen grabbing a late-night dinner in Milan following the United States’ historic 2-1 overtime victory over Canada on February 22, 2026.
The Goal Heard ‘Round the World
The victory was poetic. Exactly 46 years to the day after the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” Hughes mimicked that legendary spirit by firing a wrist shot past Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington at the 1:41 mark of overtime. The goal secured the third Olympic gold medal in U.S. men’s hockey history and triggered a nationwide celebration.
However, the win didn’t come without a physical cost. In the third period, Hughes took a high stick to the face from Canada’s Sam Bennett, resulting in a bloodied mouth and two missing front teeth. True to his “whiskey drinker” reputation—a term coined by Team USA coach Mike Sullivan to describe the team’s grit—Hughes barely missed a shift.
“I looked on the ice and saw my teeth and was like, ‘Here we go again,'” Hughes joked during his post-game media availability. “I’m from the best country in the world; we’ve got great dentists there. They’re gonna fix me right up.”
A Season of Resilience
Seeing Hughes out for dinner is a welcome sight for Devils fans, who have watched their star battle through a gauntlet of injuries over the past year.
- March 2025: Underwent significant shoulder surgery that ended his previous NHL season early.
- November 2025: Suffered a “fluke accident” involving a cut finger that required surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, sidelining him for 18 games.
- January 2026: A brief lower-body injury scare just weeks before the Olympics.
Despite these setbacks, Hughes finished the Olympic tournament with four goals and three assists, leading the Americans in scoring and proving his status as a “high-stakes player.”
Off-Ice Intrigue: The Tate McRae Connection
While his on-ice performance is the talk of the sports world, his personal life is dominating social media. Rumors of a romance between Hughes and Canadian pop star Tate McRae reached a fever pitch during the Games.
The pair was first linked in November 2025, when they were spotted dining at Anton’s in New York City’s West Village while Hughes was recovering from hand surgery. Speculation intensified when McRae was seen at a Devils game in December, and later when she collaborated with NBC on Olympic promotional content.
The dynamic adds a layer of “Romeo and Juliet” irony to the Olympic final: Hughes, the American hero, defeated Canada for the gold, while his rumored girlfriend is a proud Calgary native. Following the game, some Canadian fans jokingly urged McRae to “dump” Hughes over his patriotic post-game comments, where he declared, “This is all about our country right now! I love the USA!”
What’s Next for the “American Hero”?
As the Olympic flame douses in Milan, Hughes is expected to return to the New Jersey Devils to lead their push for a wild-card playoff spot. While he may be sporting a gap-toothed smile for a few more days, his performance has solidified his legacy.
“He’s a freaking gamer,” said his brother and teammate Quinn Hughes. “Just mentally tough. American hero.”
Would you like me to track the New Jersey Devils’ upcoming schedule or provide an update on when Jack Hughes is expected to visit his dentist back in the States?