Jack Hughes had just lit the lamp for his first Olympic goal, and the celebration said it all. He skated straight toward his older brother, Quinn, with a grin as wide as the Alps. Moments later, Zach Werenski and Brady Tkachuk joined the party, and as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” blared through the arena, it was clear this was more than just another goal-it was a moment Hughes and his family will never forget.
At 24 years old, the New Jersey Devils’ star center is living out a lifelong dream. Scoring with his brother on the ice and his parents, Jim and Ellen Hughes, in the stands?
That’s the kind of Olympic story you write home about. And it’s not just a feel-good moment-Hughes is producing.
After picking up two primary assists in his Olympic debut, he added a goal in his second game, bringing his tournament total to three points.
“Unbelievable feeling putting the jersey back on,” Hughes said in a postgame interview. “Always a dream come true putting the USA jersey on, and the Olympics is the peak of hockey. A great, great night, and we want to keep it going.”
Just a few weeks ago, Hughes was back in Newark, dealing with a lower-body injury that kept him out of the Devils’ last three games before the Olympic break. According to reports, it was a strained groin that had him sidelined. But once he arrived in Milan, Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan gave the green light-Hughes was good to go.
That decision sparked some chatter. Could he have helped the Devils snap their three-game skid before the break?
Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe addressed it at the time, saying Hughes was “day-to-day,” but also acknowledged the players had earned the right to represent their country. “It can be an outstanding showcase for our league and for the players themselves,” Keefe said.
And showcase himself is exactly what Hughes has done.
Despite starting the tournament on what’s technically the fourth line, Hughes is proving that role and ice time don’t define impact. Through two games, he’s averaged just 12 minutes a night, but he’s made every second count. Skating alongside JT Miller of the Rangers and Brock Nelson of the Avalanche, Hughes has been one of Team USA’s most dynamic forwards.
“I know how competitive (Jack) is, and I don't think he really cares about his role,” Quinn Hughes said. “He just believes that he can help the team, which he can, and definitely did.”
Coach Sullivan echoed that sentiment. “He is amongst the very best, and that in and of itself is an incredible honor,” he said. “To be in the conversation to make this roster is extremely difficult when you look at the amount of talent that the United States has developed.”
One of the early surprises of the tournament has been the instant chemistry between Hughes and Nelson. The two have assisted on each other’s goals, and their connection has become a key storyline for Team USA.
Nelson, a 34-year-old veteran and three-time 30-goal scorer, has spent most of his NHL career just a short drive from Newark with the Islanders. Now with Colorado, he’s showing he still has plenty in the tank.
“I don’t know who is saying [that] they weren’t sure Brock was going to be on the team,” Werenski said. “I mean, he is incredible. Every time we play Colorado during the regular season, he is one of the best players on the ice.”
Hughes agrees. “Every guy in the NHL knows what he’s about,” he said of Nelson.
“I played him a lot in the Metro over the years. You know when you are playing him, you are getting a hard night.”
That mutual respect has translated into on-ice success, and it’s silencing critics on both sides. For Hughes, the criticism leading up to the Olympics was loud. But he’s answered with his play-and his teammates have taken notice.
“It is probably different than what he’s playing in New Jersey, but then again, it is sacrifice,” said Matthew Tkachuk. “It is commitment. That is how we are going to win, and a guy like that doing that just makes our team so much better.
“We are so lucky to have him, and he has embraced it.”
Next up for Team USA: a matchup against Germany on Sunday at 3:10 p.m. ET. With Hughes clicking and the chemistry building, this American squad is starting to look dangerous.