USA Men’s Hockey Wins Olympic Gold at Milan-Cortina 2026
Team USA has won Olympic gold in men’s hockey at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games, defeating Canada 2–1 in overtime on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy. It is the first Olympic men’s hockey gold for the United States since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” at Lake Placid—46 years to the day—and the first with NHL players in the lineup, after the league returned to the Olympics for the first time since 2014 (NCAA.org, Fox News, The Guardian).
The Final: USA 2, Canada 1
Matt Boldy put the U.S. ahead 1–0 with a goal just over six minutes into the first period, firing past Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington. Cale Makar tied it for Canada late in the second period, and the game stayed 1–1 through regulation. Jack Hughes scored the gold-medal winner 1:41 into overtime, taking Zach Werenski’s feed and snapping a shot through Binnington’s legs to seal the 2–1 victory. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 41 of 42 shots for Team USA and was named tournament MVP by the IIHF; Hughes later called him the Americans’ best player and was bloodied after taking a stick to the face in the third period, drawing a Canadian penalty.
The Road to Gold
The U.S. won Preliminary Group C with wins over Latvia, Denmark, and Germany. In the playoffs, the Americans beat Sweden, then Slovakia, then Canada in the gold-medal game to claim the title. The tournament was played in front of packed crowds in Milan, with NHL stars on display for the first time at an Olympics in 12 years.
Why It Matters
The NHL and NHLPA agreed in 2025 to pause the season and send players to Milan-Cortina 2026, ending a long absence from the Winter Games. For American fans, the gold medal erases decades of near-misses—silver in 2002 and 2010, fourth in 2014 when the NHL last participated—and establishes this generation as the one that finally brought the top prize home. For the players, many of whom grew up dreaming of the Olympics, it is a career-defining moment.
What It Means for AthX
Olympic and international results don’t directly change AthX player prices—we focus on MLB (and soon NHL) regular-season and playoff performance for dynamic pricing and dividends. But a gold medal can boost a player’s profile, narrative, and marketability; when we add NHL to the platform, names like Hellebuyck, Boldy, and Hughes will already carry the “Olympic gold medalist” tag. For now, enjoy the moment—and get ready to trade MLB and future NHL shares on AthX. Browse the marketplace to see the players you can trade today. *Sources: NCAA.org – Team USA wins first men’s hockey gold since Miracle on Ice (Feb 22, 2026); Fox News – Jack Hughes shares patriotic message after Olympic thriller (Feb 22, 2026); The Guardian – USA stun Canada in overtime to win first Olympic men’s ice hockey gold since 1980 (Feb 22, 2026); CBS Sports – Team USA hockey claims first gold since 1980 beating Canada in OT (Feb 22, 2026); ESPN – Jack Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck lift US to Olympic hockey gold (Feb 22, 2026). Fact-checked February 22, 2026.*