On the final day of the 2026 Winter Olympics, the United States men’s hockey team made history.
Team USA won its first gold medal since the Miracle on Ice in 1980, defeating Canada — widely regarded as one of the best Olympic teams ever assembled — 2-1 on a game-winning goal in overtime from center Jack Hughes.
It was a fairly surprising result that was celebrated en masse in the United States, even in the middle of a youth hockey game. During a pee-wee contest at the Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota (a suburb of Minneapolis), a heartwarming video captured the moment players on both teams learned that Team USA won gold.
Play was briefly stopped as both teams celebrated the victory.
“We won!” one of the players shouted in the video before chants of “USA!” broke out. The players then briefly left the ice to celebrate with their respective benches.
This year’s Olympics marked the first time NHL players had participated since 2014, and it led to Team USA’s first gold medal in men’s hockey in 46 years. If this adorable clip is any indication, it seems that run to the gold has also inspired the players of the future.
Hockey News