Hughes bros help deliver Team USA's first Olympic gold medal since 1980

United States players, including Auston Matthews (34) of the United States and Connor Hellebuyck (37) of the United States, celebrate with their gold medals after defeating Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Brotherly love: Jack and Quinn Hughes help deliver Team USA's first Olympic gold medal since 1980

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Feb 22, 2026 12:48 PM ET

Entering the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, left wingers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk received the most attention for Team USA. However, it was another pair of brothers who became America's biggest hockey heroes.

Days after 26-year-old defenseman Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild) scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Team Sweden in the quarterfinal, his younger brother had his Olympic moment.

In overtime of the gold-medal game against Team Canada on Sunday, 24-year-old center Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils) nailed the winning goal on an assist from defenseman Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets). The clutch shot secured a 2-1 win for Team USA and its first gold medal since the famed "Miracle on Ice" at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

It's fitting that Jack and Quinn Hughes scored the two biggest shots for the Americans. The siblings played a key role in bringing the team together and helping it reach its goal.

JACK HUGHES DELIVERS AMERICA'S GOLDEN MOMENT IN OVERTIME. pic.twitter.com/4foFDOri53
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2026

How Jack and Quinn Hughes helped Team USA quickly bond

Before the start of the Olympics, Jack Hughes admitted Team USA had little time to bond because of the NHL season.

"Everyone's worried about their own game and about their own team and how they're doing," Jack Hughes told Bleacher Report's Graham GSM Matthews for a story published Jan. 23. "That's the one interesting thing about the NHL and hockey: every other sport is so geared up for the Olympics. They're probably in a phase where they're dialing up for the Olympics, and the hockey guys are grinding in the middle of their season, doing their thing."

But that's where the brothers came in handy. Entering the tournament, Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan (New York Rangers) explained that they would help the squad jell.

"The brothers are next level familiarity," Sullivan said, via Stephen Whyno and Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. "Any time you can add that element, it can only help....It helps us become a team even more."

That it did. The U.S. finished the Olympics third in shot-on-goal percentage (11.35 percent) and goals scored (26). Quinn Hughes tied for fourth in the Olympics in points (eight, one goal and seven assists), while Jack Hughes ranked eighth (seven, four goals and three assists).

The Tkachuk brothers still played a key role for Team USA. Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers) logged six assists, while Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators) recorded three goals and two assists.

This isn't the first time an American gold-medal-winning squad has included multiple brothers. The 1960 team featured Roger and Bill Christian, as well as Bill and Bob Cleary. Apparently, brotherly love can go a long way in winning gold.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads: