Jack Hughes has been riding a wave of media attention after his unforgettable performance for Team USA, clinching the gold medal with a thrilling overtime goal against Canada. That decisive moment, slipping the puck past Jordan Binnington, has etched Hughes' name into the annals of Winter Olympic legends, forever celebrated as an American sports hero.
Since that iconic goal, Hughes has been the face of numerous media appearances, sharing his experience with both national and local outlets. From morning shows to evening broadcasts, he's been recounting the adrenaline and joy of that golden moment. Now, he's set to charm audiences on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and even make an appearance on Saturday Night Live.
On a recent Friday, Hughes took a detour to Indianapolis to visit the set of The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN's most-watched daily program, known for its viral moments. With an audience of about 500,000 daily viewers, Hughes was primed for another spotlight moment.
During the show, Hughes opened up about his plans to fix his teeth, the lifelong dream of scoring such a goal, and his camaraderie with Megan Keller, who scored the Golden Goal for the women's team. Keller joined the show later via video, adding to the celebration of Team USA's triumphs.
The highlight of the show came when McAfee challenged Hughes to a ball hockey shot across the set, with $100,000 for charity on the line. Despite the pressure, Hughes, who had just scored in front of 26 million viewers, was up for the challenge.
True to form, Hughes nailed the shot, securing the charitable prize. While the beneficiary hasn't been announced, it's likely that Hughes' own charity, Pucks & Pages, might be the lucky recipient of this generous windfall.