Hockey sticks, helmets and gloves covered the ice.
The US men’s hockey team celebrated like kids after beating Canada 2-1 in overtime in the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, February 22. And it was time for everyone to celebrate something bigger.
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The victory capped a memorable and electrifying Winter Olympic Games. Maybe the best of all time?
Well, there were some broken medals. And from time to time it rained. And frankly, the pizza here is overrated.
Sorry, Italy. And thank you, Italy. You were a great host as the United States won 33 medals, more than at any previous Winter Games. But what made it incredible was beyond the medals.
Like Lindsey Vonn and Ilia Malinin’s heartbreak. Vonn, who at 41 years old and with a torn ACL, pointed her skis down the hill and said to hell with caution.
Then he crashed 13 seconds into the run, shattering his leg and his dreams and maybe a little of us.
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And Malinin, the self-proclaimed “Quad God,” falling apart during the men’s skating competition. Then openly talking about the vise-like pressure, something that had been building for months.
It wasn’t just Americans. Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo had absolute dominance. She won six golds, breaking the record for most gold medals won in a single Winter Olympics.
It also hurt a little to know that this record had belonged to Eric Heiden, an American speed skater, since the 1980 Games in Lake Placid.
Then there’s the reason NBC pays billions for television rights and why we watch.
Alysa Liu, the American figure skater with platinum-striped hair and undeniable joy, ended a long drought. She became the first American to win a gold medal in the individual competition since 2002.
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Then there was the women’s hockey team. Dominant until they ran into Canada. And they were firm and brave when they recovered in regulation time and won in overtime.
Then came the United States men’s hockey team. Jumping to a 1-0 lead and fighting to protect themselves before Canada simply refused to comply. Canada seemed fast and skilled enough to finish off the Americans. Before the game went to extra time. And before…
Well, you probably know how it ended.
United States players celebrate after Jack Hughes scored his second goal in overtime to win gold.
Jack Hughes scored at the 1:41 mark of overtime and chaos began as helmets, gloves and hockey sticks littered the ice.
Amid the celebration, three players skated while holding a United States jersey with Gaudreau and the number 13 on the back. It was a tribute to Johnny Gaudreau, who was an NHL star in 2024 when he was riding a bike, hit by a car and killed.
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Gaudreau would have been on this hockey team if he had survived.
“Johnny Hockey, Johnny Hockey.” Fans chanted Gaudreau’s nickname.
It was fine if you saw it without tears. Or if you choked. Or simply contemplate the extraordinary scene.
It was a reminder of why we come together with the world and do this every four years.
So were these the best Winter Olympics ever? Well, exactly 46 years ago, another American men’s hockey team stunned the Soviet Union in Lake Placid. Fortunately, the Olympic Games offer the time of greatest debate.
Will we meet again in 2030?
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Team USA Men’s Hockey Victory Caps… Best Winter Olympics of All Time