The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1543845
APRIL 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 63 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE F or the first time since the 1980 "Miracle On Ice," Team USA won Olympic gold in men's ice hockey, beat- ing Canada, 2-1, in overtime in the fi- nal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The Americans had been de- nied gold by Canada in both 2002 and 2010 but finally got over the hump. Former Wolverines had their finger- prints all over the epic title, with Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild), Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings) and Zach Werenski (Colum- bus Blue Jackets) repping the block M in Milan. Those four became the first-ever Michigan hockey players to win gold at the Olympics, and first to win a medal since Carl Hagelin took home silver with Sweden in Sochi, Russia, in 2014. Jack Hughes, the brother of former Michigan players Quinn Hughes and Luke Hughes (not on the USA team), scored the golden goal in overtime, off a pass from Werenski. Larkin was also on the ice, skating through the middle lane to give the team a numbers advantage. After Jack Hughes lit the lamp, the cel- ebration began and didn't stop for days. "Just elation," Larkin said, per NHL. com. "Throwing my equipment, my sticks and gloves in the air like we did in minor hockey dreaming of that mo- ment. Seeing the puck go in and just not even believing it. I still don't really believe it. What a great moment. "Being over there and playing in the game, surrounded by our families, we were still in Europe. We didn't really understand the impact fully until we got home. Just to see the reception that we've got from people on the streets and people coming up to us. … It was truly unlike anything I've ever experienced. It just makes you proud, and proud of the group of guys and what we were able to accomplish." Larkin had the first goal of the game in the second period of a 2-1 overtime victory over Sweden in the semifinal, and Hughes had the game-winner dur- ing 3-on-3 overtime play. In the 5-1 victory over Germany days earlier, Werenski notched a goal and Hughes and Larkin each had an assist. Hughes was magnificent, with 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists) with a plus-3 on-ice rating. Werenski was plus-5 with 1 goal and 4 assists, while Larkin had a pair of goals and 1 assist. Connor ap- peared in the first two games for the Americans but did not play in the last four. FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NHL: FIVE STARS OF THE MONTH Through March 8 • Kyle Connor (2015-16), LW, Winnipeg Jets: Tied for 14th in the NHL and is sec- ond on the Jets with 71 points (28 goals, 43 assists) … Currently on a three-game point steak. • Quinn Hughes (2017-19), D, Minnesota Wild: Traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Minnesota Wild in December, a move that was graded as an "A-" for his new team by ESPN months later … Tallied 63 points (6 goals, 57 assists) to rank fifth among NHL defensemen. • Zach Hyman (2012-15), C, Edmonton Oil- ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Four Wolverines Win Gold Medal With Team USA Dylan Larkin (No. 21) and three other former Michigan hockey players helped lead Team USA to the Olympic gold medal with a 2-1 overtime win against Canada Feb. 22. PHOTO COURTESY USA HOCKEY