US Men’s Hockey Victory and Record Gold Haul Mark Conclusion of 2026 Winter Games
Milan, Sunday, 22 February 2026.
Team USA shattered national records at the Milano Cortina Games, culminating in a historic men’s hockey gold—their first since 1980—after a dramatic overtime victory against Canada. Alongside Eileen Gu’s third gold medal performance, these triumphs define a watershed moment for American winter sports as the closing ceremony approaches at the Arena di Verona.
A Historic Finish on Ice
The highly anticipated men’s hockey final delivered a dramatic conclusion to the Milano Cortina Games, serving as a fitting capstone to a record-breaking performance by the United States. Following our previous report where Matt Boldy established an early American lead against a Canadian roster missing captain Sidney Crosby, the game evolved into a defensive attrition battle. Canada fought back in the second period, with defenseman Cale Makar scoring the equalizer in the final minutes to force the game beyond regulation [1]. The deadlock was finally broken in overtime when Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal, securing a 2-1 victory for the United States [1]. This triumph marks a significant statistical milestone, as it represents the first Olympic gold medal for the U.S. men’s hockey team since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980 [1].
American Medal Dominance and Gu’s Triple
The hockey victory contributed to an unprecedented haul for Team USA, which has shattered its national records for gold medals at a single Winter Olympics. As of the final day, the United States has amassed 12 gold medals and 33 total medals, surpassing the gold medal counts achieved in Salt Lake City (2002) and Vancouver (2010) [1]. A significant portion of this success is attributed to freestyle skiing phenom Eileen Gu. Competing in the women’s freeski halfpipe final—which had been postponed to the morning of February 22 due to weather conditions—Gu dominated the field with a score of 94.75 [1][2]. This victory secured her third gold medal of the 2026 Games, cementing her status as one of the most commercially and competitively impactful athletes of the tournament [1].
Global Podiums and Canadian Resilience
While the United States celebrated its hockey resurgence, other nations solidified their standings in the final hours of competition. Germany asserted absolute dominance in sliding sports, achieving a one-two finish in the 4-man bobsled, led by pilot Johannes Lochner who claimed his second gold of the Games [1]. In endurance events, Sweden’s Ebba Andersson captured gold in the gruelling women’s cross-country skiing 50km mass start [1]. For Canada, despite the heartbreaking overtime loss in hockey, the final weekend provided redemption on the curling sheet. The men’s team, skipped by Brad Jacobs, defeated Great Britain 9-6 to win gold—Canada’s first in the four-player event since 2014—while the women’s team led by Rachel Homan secured a bronze medal victory over the United States [2].
Closing Ceremony Preparations
With the athletic contests concluded, attention now shifts to the closing ceremony scheduled for 14:30 ET (11:30 PT) today at the historic Arena di Verona [1]. As stakeholders review the commercial and logistical execution of the Milano Cortina Games, Team USA has announced that hockey captain Hilary Knight and ice dancer Evan Bates will lead the American delegation as flagbearers [1]. The ceremony will officially bring to a close a Winter Olympics defined by a resurgence in American skiing and hockey dominance, alongside the continued technical mastery of European sliding and skiing programs.