Do you believe in destiny?
46 years to the day of the Miracle on Ice, which helped clinch the last gold medal won by the United States men’s hockey team in 1980, Team USA is golden again.
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The United States stunned Canada 2-1 in overtime, another iconic victory highlighted by Jack Hughes’ game-winner, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s magic, and Michigan connections across the ice.
Hughes’ goal, less than two minutes into overtime, was assisted by Grosse Pointe Woods’ Zach Werenski. Detroit Red Wing and Waterford native Dylan Larkin joined them on the medal-clinching 3-on-3 shift.
“This is all about our country right now,” Hughes told NBC after the game. “I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable.”
Hughes’ goal would not have been possible without Hellebuyck’s heroics in the net. Hailing from Commerce, the netminder made 41 saves, keeping Team USA alive with spectacular athleticism down the stretch.
“It’s a dream come true,” the reigning NHL Hart Memorial Trophy winner for most valuable player told NBC upon receiving his medal. “I love this group. We’ve had so much fun over here. We’ve grinded. We’ve battled. This is some of the best and most fun hockey I’ve ever played.”
Their bond is shaped in Metro Detroit at the National Team Development Center.
USA Hockey centers its operations in Plymouth. Molded through youth competition, NHL stars still reconvene and bond during summers on the ice in Michigan, where Hughes relocated during high school.
“The USA Hockey brotherhood is so strong,” Hughes continued. “We’re such a team.”
As Larkin told Local 4 prior to the Olympics, their identity as a team stretches well beyond Team USA.
“There’s Zach Werenski and Kyle Connor, I grew up playing with those guys with Belle Tire here in Detroit,” the Red Wings captain recalled. “I think the cool part is that a lot of us played there [in Plymouth]. At the Fourt Nations, we all got together and saw the different guys telling stories of when they were there. It’s great to have something special you have in common while wearing the jersey.”
Multiple gold medalists have worn the same college jerseys, too.
Connor, Larkin, Werenski, and Quinn Hughes are all alumni of the University of Michigan.
Six of the Americans officially hail from Michigan, more than any other state.
- Kyle Connor (Shelby Township)
- Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce)
- Jack Hughes (Canton)
- Quinn Hughes (Canton)
- Dylan Larkin (Waterford)
- Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe Woods)
Sunday’s victory earns the United States its 12th gold medal, breaking its previous Winter Olympics record of 10 set in Salt Lake City in 2002.
The win also completes a sweep of men’s and women’s hockey gold, both won 2-1 in overtime over Canada. Farmington Hills’ native Megan Keller iced the game-winner on Friday with Plymouth’s Kirsten Simms.
“I’m so proud to be from Michigan,” Keller, a two-time gold medalist, told Local 4’s Ty Steele in Milan. “It’s where I found my love for hockey, where I got my start in hockey—just a really special place. It will always be my home, and hopefully I represented them proudly this Olympics.”
“Dream big,” Keller added in a message to young kids. “If you want to set your mind to something, you can get there with hard work.”
Those who got to Milano Cortina in 2026 are immortalized in hockey history. Their journey was forged through Michigan.