Rusty Weiss
New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes is riding a wave of coast-to-coast popularity after his bloodied, toothless heroics delivered Team USA its first men’s hockey Olympic gold medal in 46 years.
And the love is coming from the unlikeliest places, including the heart of Rangers country. We all know the story. And hockey fans are all in awe of what Hughes accomplished.
The 2026 Olympics in Italy gave America a modern-day “Miracle on Ice” moment when Hughes, playing through a high-stick that knocked out teeth, buried the overtime winner against Canada.
The now-iconic photo of the Devils star draped in Old Glory, blood still on his teeth (those that were still in his mouth), instantly became a symbol of American grit and has turned the 23-year-old into a household name far beyond hockey.
Jack Hughes really broke Canada https://t.co/D5dWuJR2k4 pic.twitter.com/WnoaLnUgk6
— 🇺🇸 The American Culturist 🇺🇸 (@MericaCulture) March 7, 2026
Bloodied and Toothless: Jack Hughes Olympic Gold Medal Hero Wins Over Even Rangers Fans in Nationwide Surge of Patriotism
Since returning stateside, Hughes has been greeted like a conquering hero. It’s been a whirlwind.
He and his gold-medal teammates partied in Miami, then headed to Washington, D.C., for a White House visit with President Trump and an appearance at the State of the Union. He even popped up on Saturday Night Live.
Back on the ice, he received thunderous ovations in New Jersey and even on the road in Pittsburgh. But the real jaw-dropper? The support is pouring in from arch-rival New York Rangers fans.
“Obviously, since we’ve come back to the U.S., you feel the love, people are still pumped for us. All the people in the streets, they’re like ‘Thank you.’ They’re so fired up. That’s the best thing for us to hear. That’s the best part, coming home,” he said at New York Raising Cane’s.
“Even Rangers fans, they keep coming up to me like, ‘I’m a die-hard Rangers fan, but I’m having a hard time not rooting for you.’ I know that’s a great fan base, too. Just all proud Americans,” he added.
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The Olympic glow even spilled into last weekend’s Battle of the Hudson. Hughes notched a hat trick against the Rangers at Prudential Center, prompting the home crowd to ditch the usual “Devils” chants for roaring “U-S-A!” calls.
One teammate joked that Hughes had accidentally ruined the organization’s branding.
“That was cool, man, obviously, in New Jersey, my fans have been so pumped up for me and themselves that we won gold,” Hughes explained.
In a deeply divided country, Hughes’ story is a refreshing reminder that certain things still unite us. America needed this win. Jack Hughes and Team USA delivered it — and the entire nation is still cheering.