Hughes Lifts U.S. to Olympic Hockey Gold in Overtime Thriller

Lake Placid, N.Y. — Jack Hughes etched his name into American hockey lore on Wednesday night, scoring in overtime to give the United States a dramatic victory over Canada and its first Olympic men’s hockey gold medal since the Miracle on Ice in 1980.

The sudden-death tally sparked bedlam on the bench and among the home crowd as the Americans sealed the championship that has eluded the program for more than four decades. The win caps a tournament-long surge by the U.S. and immediately rekindles memories of the country’s most iconic winter-sports triumph.

With the golden goal, Hughes delivered the decisive blow in a back-and-forth contest that required an extra period to separate the fierce North American rivals. The victory ends a 44-year wait for American hockey fans who have longed to see their team back atop the Olympic podium.