New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes scored the overtime game-winning goal for the United States against Canada in the men's ice hockey gold-medal game at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 22, 2026, at Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy. The puck from that goal was donated to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

Hughes called it "bulls---" that the Hall possesses the puck, telling ESPN: "I'm trying to get it. … Why would they have that puck?" He added that he would not keep it for himself but wanted it for his father, a collector of memorabilia from Hughes and his brothers.

Philip Pritchard, vice president of the resource centre and curator at the Hockey Hall of Fame, responded to ESPN: "Unfortunately, in the easiest words, it was never Jack's puck to own. It's been donated to us now. For every artifact that's been donated, we have a paper trail and signed paperwork of where it's come from."

In international tournaments including the Olympics, on-ice officials typically collect pucks and gear from milestone moments for identification and donation via the IIHF, unlike in NHL games where players often retain them. The Hockey Hall of Fame stated that such artifacts are preserved and exhibited for fans worldwide through its museum programs.

The U.S. victory marked its first men's Olympic ice hockey gold since 1980.[1] Hughes, a 24-year-old U.S. centre and first overall pick by the Devils in the 2019 NHL draft, plans to formally contact the Hall, which has returned items to players previously.[2]

The Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena hosted the Olympic hockey events.[3]

Sources

1. International Olympic Committee / Olympics.com
   Ice hockey: Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid 1980
   Accessed October 2024
   https://olympics.com/en/news/ice-hockey-miracle-on-ice-1980-lake-placid
2. NHL.com
   Jack Hughes - New Jersey Devils - Player Profile
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/jack-hughes-8480028
3. International Olympic Committee / Olympics.com
   Milano Santa Giulia Olympic Park
   Accessed October 2024
   https://olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/olympic-park-milano-santa-giulia
4. Hockey Hall of Fame
   Crosby’s Golden Goal Artifact Added to Hall Collections
   June 2, 2010
   https://www.hhof.com/news/6-2-10-crosbys-golden-goal-artifact-added-to-hall-collections
5. CBC Sports
   Crosby's golden goal puck donated to Hockey Hall of Fame
   June 2, 2010
   https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/crosby-s-golden-goal-puck-donated-to-hockey-hall-of-fame-1.902442