Jack Hughes has fixed his teeth, broken in the gold medal game at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics.
He led Team USA men’s hockey to gold against rival Canada on Feb. 22.
What happened?
Canada’s Sam Bennett’s high stick hit Hughes in the face, chipping a few of his teeth.
The US and Canada were tied at 1 at the end of the third period, going into sudden-death overtime.
Hughes scored the golden goal in overtime, securing Team USA’s first hockey title since 1980.
Why it matters for Jack Hughes
Hughes’ mother, Ellen, was glad it was just his teeth and no other injuries.
She noted that wearing a mouth guard helped minimize the damage.
Dr. Jason Auerbach, the official oral surgeon of the New Jersey Devils, explained that custom-made mouth guards protect teeth but aren’t foolproof.
What comes next?
Hughes is finishing the season with the Devils, scoring 21 points since his Olympic run.
He joined New Jersey as the No. 1 pick for the 2019 NHL draft and is in year four of an eight-year, $64 million contract.
Hughes appeared as a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” after the Olympics.
He told Fallon that he didn’t want to spend time in the dentist’s chair.
Fallon asked whether the chipped tooth was going to be Hughes’ thing, and Hughes replied that it wouldn’t be.
Auerbach felt a ton of pride for the USA and Hughes, being a New Jersey Devil and living in New Jersey.
Hughes fixed his top teeth on March 17, according to the Devils.
The team confirmed this with NBC News.
Hughes’ shattered smile will be the defining image of Team USA’s victory.
He took a slap shot past Canada’s Jordan Binnington for the golden goal.
The win marked Team USA’s first hockey title since 1980.