When Jack Hughes took a brutal shot to the face during the Olympic clash between Team USA and Canada, cameras caught the immediate aftermath — blood on the ice, teammates waving for medical staff, and a visibly shaken bench. Doctors later confirmed he suffered significant dental trauma. For many players, that would have ended the night.

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MILAN (AP) — Jack Hughes lost some teeth before he won Olympic gold for the United States.

The forward who put the puck in the net in overtime to give the Americans a 2-1 victory over Canada in the men’s hockey final Sunday did so with a bloody mouth and less of a bite than he began the game with. That’s because Hughes was spittin’ chiclets after taking a stick to the mouth from Sam Bennett in the third period.

“More people are going to be looking at his medal,” said Matt Boldy, who scored the other U.S. goal, “than his teeth.”

United States' Jack Hughes (86) and Clayton Keller (91) react after receiving their gold...
United States’ Jack Hughes (86) and Clayton Keller (91) react after receiving their gold medals after the USA defeated Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

The 24-year-old Hughes is a forward for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL. He scored past Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington after a little more than 1 1/2 minutes of extra time.

Hughes’ brother, Quinn, is a defenseman for the Americans, who won the country’s first gold in men’s hockey since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team that upset the heavily favored Soviet Union at Lake Placid.