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The Olympic overtime victories by the U.S. men's and women's hockey teams which won them Gold Medals, were spectacular and if Americans ever needed a greater reason to feel pride and patriotism in their country, I don't know what it would be. As far as the men's hockey team is concerned, this was their first Gold Medal since the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Jack Hughes scored the winning goal in overtime, playing on despite being high-sticked in the mouth in the third period and losing multiple teeth. To make things even sweeter, the young man who made the winning goal, is a real mensch (A Yiddish word meaning a person of integrity and honor).
In his after game interview on NBC Hughes paid tribute to the goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, who saved the game multiple times as Team Canada outplayed the US team for most of the third period. Then 24-year-old Jack Hughes said, "This is all about our country now. I love the USA. I love my teammates. It's unbelievable. The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong. I'm so proud to be American today."
Never once did he use the word "I" in conjunction with winning the game. It was "we." It was always "the team." And he was so grateful and unapologetically patriotic in his statement. What refreshing words to hear from an American athlete for a change. I don't follow hockey and I don't usually watch the Olympics, but this young man made me so proud to call myself an American. And here's something else, it turns out he is Jewish.
And Jack has a brother, Quinn, also on the USA hockey team, who earlier also delivered the decisive goal in the quarterfinal. Two clutch OT goals made by two Jewish brothers. The Hughes boys come from a family of ice hockey athletes. Jack plays professionally for the New Jersey Devils. His older brother, Quinn, was drafted seventh overall in the 2018 NHL entry draft by the Vancouver Canucks. His younger brother, Luke, was drafted fourth overall by the Devils in the 2021 NHL entry draft. Their father, Jim Hughes, is a former ice hockey player and team captain for Providence College, an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins, and the director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
And that's not all. His mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, played ice hockey, lacrosse, and soccer at the University of New Hampshire and, in 2012, was inducted into the University of New Hampshire Athletics Hall of Fame. She also played for the United States women's national ice hockey team, and won a silver medal at the 1992 World Championship.
Wait, I'm not through. His uncle Marty, and his cousin, Teddy Doherty, were also both involved in ice hockey. Marty last played in the British National League for the Dundee Stars, and Teddy last played for the Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL. His maternal uncle is sociologist Adam S. Weinberg, the president of Denison University (but I don't think he played hockey).
Not only an ice hockey wiz, Jack Hughes is an avid reader. He has brought books such as Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand and Kane and Able by Jeffrey Archer on trips with his team and down time. Hughes and his younger brother Luke announced the launch of their reading program Hughes Brothers Pucks & Pages, a multi-year reading program partnered with JAG Physical Therapy and Hockey in New Jersey, with the goal to promote literacy among New Jersey youth.
So, yes, it is nice to witness a young athlete who is patriotic, humble, honorable, literate, and doesn't spew out profanity in front of TV cameras. Jack with his toothless grin, smiled and said, "I love the USA." What a mensch!
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