Jack Hughes questions Hockey Hall of Fame's possession of puck from U.S. Olympic men's hockey golden goal

New Jersey Devils centre Jack Hughes, who scored the overtime winner for the United States in the men's ice hockey gold medal game against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, criticized the Hockey Hall of Fame for holding the puck from that goal.[1]

Hughes called it "bulls---" that the Hall possesses the puck, which clinched the first U.S. men's Olympic hockey gold since the 1980 Lake Placid "Miracle on Ice."[1][2] The game took place on February 22, 2026, at the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy.[1]

"I'm trying to get it. … Why would they have that puck?" Hughes told ESPN.[1] He expressed interest in obtaining the puck for his father, a collector of his sons' memorabilia, though he does not collect items himself.

Philip Pritchard, vice president of the resource centre and curator at the Hockey Hall of Fame, responded to ESPN that "it was never Jack's puck to own," explaining it was donated by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) after the game, with proper documentation.[1]

In Olympic tournaments, officials collect pucks from milestone goals for IIHF donation, unlike NHL games where players often keep such items.[1] The Hall stated that artifacts are preserved and shared globally through its museum.[1]

Hall staff were present in Milan to facilitate donations; the puck from U.S. women's player Megan Keller's golden goal three days earlier is also in the collection.[1] Hughes said he plans to formally contact the Hall, which has returned items to players previously.