Jack Hughes Jokes About USA Having 'Great Dentists' After Losing Teeth in Olympic Gold Medal Game

Jack Hughes, the overtime hero of Team USA's 2-1 win over Canada in the men's hockey gold-medal match on Sunday morning, sacrificed some teeth for his country after taking a high stick from Canada's Sam Bennett in the third period.

But he wasn't sweating it after the game.

"I'm lucky I'm from the best country in the world, and we've got great dentists there too," he told reporters, smiling. "So I'm lucky I'm American and they're going to fix me right up."  

It was only the third time the United States has claimed gold in men's hockey, with the first two coming in 1960 and the famous "Miracle on Ice" team that upset the vaunted Soviet Union in 1980.

The United States previously faced Canada in the gold-medal match twice, in 2002 and 2010. They lost both times.

So Sunday's victory ended more than one drought, and was cause for plenty of toothless smiles.

"The best experiences I have are playing for my country," Hughes told reporters. "Playing to break the golden drought with this group of guys and for us to win gold here at the Olympics — just an unbelievable moment."

While he'll be remembered as the hero, and rightly so, goalie Connor Hellebuyck is the biggest reason the Americans even reached overtime. He saved 41 of the 42 shots he faced against the stacked Canadiens, setting the stage for overtime's dramatic winner.

"Listen, they probably outplayed us a little bit tonight," Hughes said. "Our goalie stood on his head though, and then overtime we both have skilled players, so anything can happen."

What happened was a gold medal for Hughes and the United States. A dentist appointment is likely next on the agenda.