The United States men’s and women’s hockey teams celebrate historic double gold after dramatic Olympic wins in Milan
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Mar 05, 2026, 19:42 IST
The United States men’s and women’s hockey teams celebrate historic double gold after dramatic Olympic wins in Milan
The United States men’s and women’s national ice hockey teams spent the week celebrating their historic gold medal victories at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Both teams defeated Canada in overtime, marking the first time the United States has won gold in both men’s and women’s hockey at the same Olympics. The players were honored at several events, including a visit to the White House and recognition during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. The visit drew attention after a joke by Trump about inviting both teams sparked political discussion, briefly shifting focus away from hockey. Later in the week, attention returned to the sport during a joint appearance on Saturday Night Live featuring Hilary Knight and brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes. Knight’s playful joke about inviting the men’s team drew laughter from the audience. Despite travel disruptions caused by a winter storm, players attended multiple media events, including The Tonight Show. The week ultimately celebrated a rare and historic achievement for U.S. hockey.
The United States men's national ice hockey team and women's national ice hockey team spent the week celebrating their historic gold medals from the 2026 Winter Olympics, though the celebration at times shifted away from hockey. Both teams had beaten Canada in overtime in Milan, giving the United States its first time winning gold in both men’s and women’s hockey at the same Olympics.
The players were honored at several events, including an appearance at the White House and during the State of the Union address by Donald Trump. The visit drew attention after Trump joked that he might be impeached if he invited only the men’s team and not the women. The comment brought criticism and pushed the conversation around the teams toward politics instead of their Olympic success.
Later in the week, the focus shifted back to hockey during a joint appearance on Saturday Night Live. Actors and players shared the stage, including Hilary Knight and the Hughes brothers, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes. During the opening monologue, Knight delivered a joke about the teams appearing together that drew loud laughter from the audience.
“It was going to be just us, but we thought we’d invite the guys too,” Knight said.
The moment helped shift attention back to the teams’ achievements in Milan. Fans and media once again focused on the dramatic wins, including the overtime goal scored by Jack Hughes in the men’s gold medal game against Canada.
Behind the scenes, several groups worked together to plan media appearances for the players. Organizations such as USA Hockey, television networks and player agencies coordinated schedules so the athletes could celebrate while still returning to their professional teams.
Travel plans were not easy. A winter storm changed flights and forced some players to land in different cities before heading to New York for television appearances. Others had to rush from league games to make the shows.
The players still managed to share the spotlight together. Knight and Hughes later appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where they celebrated the Olympic victory again.
“The best couple weeks of my life,” Hughes said.
The busy schedule finally brought the attention back to the main story. The United States had achieved a rare Olympic moment with both hockey teams winning gold, something the country had never done before.
The players were honored at several events, including an appearance at the White House and during the State of the Union address by Donald Trump. The visit drew attention after Trump joked that he might be impeached if he invited only the men’s team and not the women. The comment brought criticism and pushed the conversation around the teams toward politics instead of their Olympic success.
Later in the week, the focus shifted back to hockey during a joint appearance on Saturday Night Live. Actors and players shared the stage, including Hilary Knight and the Hughes brothers, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes. During the opening monologue, Knight delivered a joke about the teams appearing together that drew loud laughter from the audience.
“It was going to be just us, but we thought we’d invite the guys too,” Knight said.
The moment helped shift attention back to the teams’ achievements in Milan. Fans and media once again focused on the dramatic wins, including the overtime goal scored by Jack Hughes in the men’s gold medal game against Canada.
Behind the scenes, several groups worked together to plan media appearances for the players. Organizations such as USA Hockey, television networks and player agencies coordinated schedules so the athletes could celebrate while still returning to their professional teams.
Travel plans were not easy. A winter storm changed flights and forced some players to land in different cities before heading to New York for television appearances. Others had to rush from league games to make the shows.
The players still managed to share the spotlight together. Knight and Hughes later appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where they celebrated the Olympic victory again.
“The best couple weeks of my life,” Hughes said.
The busy schedule finally brought the attention back to the main story. The United States had achieved a rare Olympic moment with both hockey teams winning gold, something the country had never done before.