Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski, Team U.S.A., Win 2026 Men's Hockey Olympic Gold in OT!

The chills that ran through my body at typing the title of this blog post were second to none. After 46 years, our United States Men's Olympic Hockey Team comes home with gold around their neck, and I could not be prouder! This game was all you could have wanted and more. A battle between two countries with deep roots in the game of hockey. The first goal would be scored by the United States' Matt Boldy, his second of the Olympics, at 6:00 into the opening period. Austin Matthews would come away with his fourth assist of the games with the primary, while Quinn Hughes would come away with his seventh of the Olympics with the secondary. But, at the very end of the middle period, 18:16, Cale Makar would add his second goal to his Olympic total, tying this game at 1-1. Devon Toews would get his second assist in the games, and this would be the only assist on Canada's tying goal. In the final period of regulation, Connor Hellebuyck was a force in net for the United States, and Jordan Binnington would not falter for Canada, either.  No goals would be scored in period three, although some teeth were lost between a high stick and a fight! We only get the Olympics every four years, and have waited twelve years for the NHL to send players again, so why not a little bonus overtime hockey in the gold-medal game? 

The winning goal would play out in overtime period 1, at 1:41, like this: Connor Hellebuyck would stop a shot on his goal, then direct the puck to Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski. Zach would charge down the ice toward the Canadian goal and their goaltender, Jordan Binnington. Zach would then slide the puck to Jack Hughes, who would then score his fourth goal in these Olympic Games, and win the United States first goal in Men's Hockey since 1980! I mean, none of the guys on the ice were even born the last time this happened! 

Our Zach Werenski, including his primary assist on the gold-medal winning goal, finishes the Olympics with a 1-5-6. This is such an amazing accomplishment for our #8, and one of the highest points in his career. Congratulations, Z! 

Also, congratulations to former Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach John Tortorella, who was a member of the United States Men's Hockey Team's coaching staff! 

I'm always honest with my readers, and I'll be raw with you right now. I cried when that puck went in the net in overtime. I was just getting it together when I saw players from the United States bring Johnny Gaudreau's #13 jersey onto the ice for the celebration, and then I cried harder than when they won the game. For us hockey fans in the United States, this win was a very long time coming. But for hockey fans around the world, as was true with the 4-Nations Face-Off last year, we all knew a player's name was missing from that roster and this Olympic roster, too. Johnny would've put his whole heart into that tournament last season and into the Olympics this year had he been with us physically. If you aren't spiritual, that's fine, but I am, and in that moment, when the United States team brought his jersey onto the ice, I felt Johnny with them and all of us. I know he's proud of his friends and the history they made today. 

And, one last time, congratulations Team U.S.A.! 

Tonight, when the clock strikes midnight on February 23rd, the NHL will resume. No, not in the way of games, those begin again on Wednesday, February 25th. What I'm referring to is the end of the NHL Olympic freeze on trades. I can't believe it's already that time of year again, but the NHL Trade Deadline is March 6th, just a little over two weeks away! The Olympic break was exciting, but now it's back to work for all NHL players as the push for Lord Stanley's Cup thrusts into fifth gear. 

Zach Werenski will join his Blue Jackets and new Head Coach Rick Bowness as the team prepares to take on the Bruins in Boston, Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. The Blue Jackets went on break having won their last seven consecutive games, and only having lost one in the eleven played since Rick Bowness took over behind the bench. Our boys are just four points out of a Wildcard Playoff Spot, and starting Wednesday, their quest to close that gap continues. I'll have the game recap for you here following the game's conclusion!  

GO U.S.A.!