If there's one player who stands out among the others on the Olympic champion U.S. men's ice hockey team, it's Jack Hughes.
The New Jersey Devils center scored the game-winning overtime goal to give Team USA a 2-1 victory over Canada on Sunday, Feb. 22, clinching the gold medal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.
But Hughes' performance was even more notable because it came after he'd just had parts of two front teeth knocked out by a high stick from a Canadian player in the just-concluded third period.
His toothless smile throughout the postgame celebration provided one of the most iconic moments of these Olympics.
What happened to Jack Hughes' teeth?
Hughes took a high stick to the mouth from Canada's Sam Bennett in the third period of Sunday's gold medal game in Milan. The hit drew blood and knocked out parts of two front teeth as Hughes went down on the ice before play was stopped.
Hughes returned to the ice and less than three minutes later was called for a high-sticking penalty of his own. However, neither team could score on their resulting power plays and the game went to overtime.
Less than two minutes into the extra period, Hughes took a perfect pass from Zach Werenski to beat Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington for the game-winning and gold medal-clinching goal.
During the emotional celebration that followed, Hughes wore his imperfect smile with pride, knowing he'd left everything out there on the ice.
Blood, sweat, tears − and a couple pieces of enamel.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happened to Olympic hockey hero Jack Hughes' teeth?