Jack Hughes questions Hockey Hall of Fame's possession of puck from U.S. men's Olympic hockey golden goal
Authored by transwinfreight.com, Mar 19, 2026
Jack Hughes, the 24-year-old center for the NHL's New Jersey Devils and captain of the U.S. men's ice hockey team, scored the overtime winner against Canada in the gold medal game at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.[1] The goal marked the United States' first men's Olympic hockey gold since the 1980 Lake Placid "Miracle on Ice."[2]
Hughes criticized the Hockey Hall of Fame for holding the puck from that goal, calling it "bulls---" and questioning why the Hall possesses it. "I'm trying to get it … Why would they have that puck?" he told ESPN.
The puck was donated to the Hockey Hall of Fame by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) following the game at Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy.[3] Philip Pritchard, vice president of the resource center and curator at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, responded: "Unfortunately, in the easiest words, it was never Jack's puck to own. It's been donated to us now. For every artifact that's been donated, we have a paper trail and signed paperwork of where it's come from."
The Hockey Hall of Fame stated that items from international tournaments like the Olympics are transferred through the IIHF's artifact donation process for preservation and exhibition. Hall staff were present in Milan to facilitate donations, including the puck from U.S. women's player Megan Keller's golden goal three days earlier.
In Olympic hockey, officials typically collect pucks and gear for memorabilia, unlike NHL games where players often keep such items. NHL players participated in the 2026 Olympics under an agreement between the NHL, NHLPA, and IIHF.[4]
Hughes said he does not collect memorabilia himself but wants the puck for his father, a avid collector for his three sons. He plans to formally contact the Hall, which has returned items to players in the past.
Sources
- NHL.com
Jack Hughes - New Jersey Devils
Accessed October 2024
https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/jack-hughes-8480020 - Olympics.com
Ice hockey at the Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Winter Games
Accessed October 2024
https://www.olympics.com/en/news/ice-hockey-miracle-on-ice-united-states-lake-placid-1980 - Olympics.com
Milan Cortina 2026 venues guide
Accessed October 2024
https://www.olympics.com/en/news/milan-cortina-2026-venues-guide - NHL.com
NHL players to participate in Olympics in 2026, 2030
23 January 2024
https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-players-to-participate-in-2026-2030-olympics