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

New Jersey Devils centre Jack Hughes said he would need to travel to Toronto to view the puck from his overtime game-winning goal that secured the United States' first men's Olympic ice hockey gold medal since 1980.

Hughes scored the decisive goal against Canada in the gold medal game on 22 February 2026 at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy.[1]

Speaking to ESPN, the 24-year-old American forward called it "bulls---" that the Hockey Hall of Fame holds the puck, adding: "I'm trying to get it. … Why would they have that puck?"

Philip Pritchard, vice president of the resource centre and curator at the Hockey Hall of Fame, told ESPN the puck was donated by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) after the game. "Unfortunately, in the easiest words, it was never Jack's puck to own," Pritchard said, noting the Hall has signed paperwork documenting the donation.

In international tournaments including the Olympics, on-ice officials typically collect pucks and gear for memorabilia, which off-ice officials identify and pass to the IIHF for donation to institutions like the Hockey Hall of Fame.[4]

The Hall of Fame stated that items are transferred through the IIHF's artifact donation process and preserved for public exhibition. Staff from the Hall were present in Milan to assist, and it also received the puck from Megan Keller's golden goal in the women's final three days prior.

Hughes said he does not collect memorabilia himself but wants the puck for his father, who collects items from the careers of his three sons, including Jack, Quinn (Vancouver Canucks) and Luke (New Jersey Devils). He plans to formally contact the Hall, which has returned artifacts to players in the past.[3]

Hughes, the first overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft, has emerged as a star centre for the Devils in his sixth NHL season.[3]