Jack Hughes etched his name into the annals of Olympic history during the 2026 Games, and he didn't need a mouthful of teeth to do it. The Team USA hockey star, who scored the game-winning goal against Canada, shared his thoughts at the USA Men's Hockey Gold Medal Press Conference—moments after his teeth were knocked out during the Feb. 22th game.
"My first thought was, 'draw the penalty,' " Jack recalled. "Actually, my first thought was, I looked down at the ice and saw my teeth lying there."
"It was like, 'here we go again,' " he continued. "Because I know the last time that happened, it wasn't very fun."
But losing teeth is just part of the game in hockey. After Canadian forward Sam Bennett knocked out at least three of Jack's teeth with a high stick to the mouth, the New Jersey Devils player wasn't too phased.
"It sounds crazy to you guys because it's just a different profession, but in hockey, if you lose your teeth, it's not even a question of coming back and playing," he said in an interview with NBC Chicago. "That's like automatic."
However, frustration did eventually set in.
"I was just feeling around my mouth, and I was just disappointed I lost my teeth," he explained. "But it is what it is now."
As for whether he plans to get the teeth repaired anytime soon?
"I'm gonna fix these things," he said. "I want my good smile back."
Because right now, he has a lot to smile about. Thanks to his overtime goal, Team USA nabbed its first gold medal since the 1980's "Miracle of Ice" team defeated the Soviet Union.
"This is all about our country right now," Jack said in a post-game interview. "I love the USA. I love my teammates. It's unbelievable. The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong. And we have so much support from ex-players. And I'm so proud to be American today."
