Hockey Hall of Fame responds to Jack Hughes' gold-medal-winning puck request

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes wants his gold-medal-winning puck back. The Hockey Hall of Fame, however, has no plans to give it to him. 

In a story published Tuesday, Hughes told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski that it's "bull---t" he and Boston Fleet defender Megan Keller don't have the pucks that captured gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Hughes netted his goal in a 2-1 overtime win over Team Canada in the men's gold-medal game on Feb. 22, while Keller scored in a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the women's gold-medal match on Feb. 19. 

The Hall of Fame replied to those comments on Wednesday. It insists it isn't obligated to give Hughes or Keller their pucks. 

Hockey Hall of Fame explains why it won't give Jack Hughes gold-medal-winning puck 

"Unfortunately, in the easiest words, it was never Jack's puck to own," Philip Pritchard, vice president of the resource center and curator for the Hall of Fame, told Wyshynski in a story published Wednesday. "It's been donated to us now. For every artifact that's been donated, we have a paper trail and signed paperwork where it's come from." 

If Hughes had scored his goal in an NHL game, he would likely be allowed to keep the puck. The Hall of Fame must first contact players to receive permission to add those items to its collection. 

For international events, like the Olympics, the same rules don't apply. Pritchard says the IIHF has been responsible for obtaining, authenticating and protecting items from global competitions since 1998. The Hall of Fame brought its staff to Milan to assist in the process. 

When a potentially historic moment occurs, an on-ice official collects an item, such as a puck. They then hand it to an off-ice official, who wraps tape around it to mark it. That is then given to the IIHF, which donates it to the Hall of Fame in Toronto. Pritchard added that this is all legally backed. 

"Part of being a nonprofit registered charity in Canada is it becomes kind of a legal document that we've received it as a donation," he said. "We've insured it, we've preserved it. We conserved everything. It becomes part of our institution." 

Athletes in other sports are allowed to keep their items from international competition. Former Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen kept the Team USA jersey he wore in the gold-medal game at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, which he reportedly sold for $384K at an auction on March 10. 

Pritchard said the Hall of Fame's practices "preserve the history of the game," but that prevents players from making pucks and other gear family heirlooms. 

Hughes said he wanted to give the puck to his father, Jim Hughes, rather than auction it. He noted his father is like an archivist for him and his brothers, Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild) and Luke Hughes (Devils). 

"When I look back in time in my career, I don't collect too many things for myself, but my dad's a monster collector for the three of us. I know he would have a special place for it," Jack Hughes said. 

But instead of being in a special place, the puck is now in a museum, where it's on display for visitors, who may not know what it is or care to learn as they scurry through all the other exhibits.