The basics:

• Devils held a homecoming for Jack Hughes at Prudential Center in Newark.
• Fans celebrated Hughes’ Olympic golden goal and Team USA achievement.
• $86,000 donated to Hockey in New Jersey in Hughes’ honor.
• Jersey Shore-themed activations and fan experiences added to the celebration.

The buzz from Milan carried straight into Newark Wednesday night.

With American flags draped across the arena and No. 86 Hughes jerseys all around, the Prudential Center felt bigger than just a regular season game or even the return from the Olympics break — it felt like a moment.

Before the puck dropped against the Buffalo Sabres, the New Jersey Devils highlighted its seven Olympians who represented their respective countries at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Jack Hughes received special recognition, following his golden goal to lift the United States over Canada for its first men’s hockey gold since 1980.

Amid “USA” chants and a frenzied crowd, the Devils star took the mic in front of a sold-out Prudential Center crowd.

“I’m so proud, and I’m so happy that the men’s and women’s U.S.A. Hockey teams brought gold medals back to the United States of America,” said Hughes. “I’m so proud to represent the New Jersey Devils organization. And I’m so so proud to represent the great state of New Jersey – so proud.

“From the bottom of my heart, all my U.S.A. teammates, we just want to thank you guys for all the love and support. We feel it.”

A hero’s welcome

Following his speech, the Devils announced an $86,000 donation – a nod to Hughes’ jersey number – to Hockey in New Jersey. Hughes was also presented with a New Jersey state flag, certificate and signing pen by Gov. Mikie Sherrill and First Gentleman Jason Hedberg. Devils Managing Partners David and Allison Blitzer, as well as members of Hockey in New Jersey joined Hughes, Sherrill and Hedberg at center ice.

As NJBIZ previously reported, Wednesday also marked Devils Down the Shore night.  The evening featured a slew of activations, including the first 9,000 fans receiving a special Hughes “Jack in the Box,” as well as a collaboration with Asbury Park’s iconic The Stone Pony.

Unfortunately, on the ice, the Devils fell short in the post-Olympics return, edged out by the Sabres 2-1. Despite that outcome, Wednesday evening in Newark was still an unforgettable one – with the Olympics buzz fresh and the raucous crowd out in full force to show love and appreciation for the historic performance.

Post-game, Hughes spoke about the welcome home ceremony and the whirlwind he’s experienced since the Feb. 22 win.

He described the past few days as some of the best of his life, but said it was nice to get back into his routine and back with his Devils teammates.

‘It’s always about the team’

Asked about the golden goal and the confidence of the team going into overtime, he noted that the locker room had a lot of alphas who kept the belief as the game against Canada tightened. As for the moment he scored his historic goal, Hughes said he gets goosebumps watching the video now.

“Just because the emotion’s so raw, and it means so much to every single one of those guys,” he said. “And we’re all genuinely so just happy for each other that we won. And I just remember the goalie shot out at me hard, so I couldn’t see really the puck go in … So, I just turned the corner, and I saw Dylan Larkin, first guy I saw just sprinting up the ice. And I just couldn’t believe it, and I was just so proud of our group.”

Video courtesy of Team USA:

Hughes brought Sabres star, and his U.S. men’s hockey teammate, Tage Thompson out on the ice during the pre-game in Newark.

“It’ll never be about one person, and it’s always about the team and that group of guys,” said Hughes. “And to share that moment with Tage, I hope that when he has his first game in Buffalo, they do something for him. And I hope he’s playing one of his American teammates, and he can do the same thing. It’s all about the U.S.A. Hockey brotherhood and a team. And that’s what we are.”

Filling the gaps

He was also asked about his smile. Hughes took a vicious high-stick in the third period of the gold medal game to his mouth, helping to produce an iconic picture of the bloody player draped in the American flag following the win.

“I don’t know,” Hughes responded about how many teeth he’d lost. “I’d have to look in the mirror and add it up. Got a couple half teeth, a full tooth. I don’t know the final number. I gotta go see a dentist, though.”

Guy went full Jersey and brought home gold. pic.twitter.com/HEaaSB35lI

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 22, 2026

Hughes considered if the golden goal would change his life.

“Obviously, just a ginormous deal for the country and for U.S.A. Hockey,” he said. “I don’t want to make it about myself, but definitely a lot of cool people have reached out. A lot of people that have helped me get to where I’m at and supported me all the way have reached out, and that’s what’s most important.

“But just the fact that I’m on a U.S.A. Hockey Championship, Olympic gold medal team — it changes all of our lives, all of our teammates. We’re champions, and we’re Olympic gold medalists, and we’re the team that … broke the run of not being able to win. So, to break that streak and win a gold medal, it bonds us forever as Olympic gold medalists.”

‘We’re just hockey players’

The Devils star also responded to questions about the political controversy that emerged in the wake of the win. The men’s hockey players took some flak for their response during a post-game phone call from President Donald Trump.

The team laughed along following comments from Trump that if he did not also invite the women’s team to the State of the Union Address, he’d be impeached. The U.S. women’s hockey Olympic team earned its third gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 2026, following wins in 2018 and 1998.

“You got to remember – we’re just hockey players,” said Hughes. “We did our job. We went over to the Olympics to win a gold medal, and that’s what we did. I’ve had the best time in my life celebrating with my teammates that we accomplished our goal.” The men’s team toured the White House and attended Tuesday’s State of the Union Address as guests of Trump.

LIVE: Jack Hughes meets the media following tonight’s game. https://t.co/T1Hcpklmdo

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 26, 2026

Hughes said he was not really surprised about the some of backlash the men’s team received.

“There’s so many different people in the country. There’s so many different views,” he said. “No matter what’s going on, someone’s going to like it, someone’s not going to like it. And for us, it was about the celebration, celebrating U.S.A. Hockey, celebrating our teammates, our group of guys. And like I said, we just had so much fun being together and enjoying the moment together.”

Asked if the team should have reacted differently during the now infamous locker room call with Trump, he offered up context. “Obviously it is what it is now, but we have so much respect for the women’s team,” explained Hughes. He said the team was in the moment in the locker room – with music blaring fresh off the win when the president called.

As noted above, Hughes also gave a shout-out to the women’s team during his on-ice speech in Newark. His mom, Ellen, is a former standout U.S. women’s hockey player and served as a consultant for the women’s team during these Olympics games.

He said, “They have so much respect for us, and we’re all just proud Americans. And we’re happy that we both swept the Olympics.”

A family affair

Hughes said that to accomplish something like a gold medal, it takes a village.

“We have so many friends and family supporting us. And then on top of that, so many just great Americans that are so proud of us, so happy for us that we won, and just unbelievable,” said Hughes. “Representing your country is the best, and this is something that you dream of. But when it happens, you can’t even describe what it feels like.”

He acknowledged how special this moment is for his family, given its long ties to U.S. Hockey. Jack’s brother, Quinn, was also a standout on the gold medal team. His other brother, Luke, is his teammate on the Devils.

“My parents have put in so much work with us. They’ve been everything to us and the three of us, we have everything to thank towards them,” said Hughes. “We’re just so proud to represent them, represent the Hughes family name.”

Hughes discussed his feelings about the great Garden State, getting emotional addressing his hometown crowd and if he’s thought what it would be like to bring a Stanley Cup to the Garden State.

To: Jersey
From: Jack#NJDevils | @usahockey pic.twitter.com/5Tu5JfgxFk

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 26, 2026

“I really do love living in New Jersey, playing in New Jersey,” he said. “When I got drafted here, obviously, I’m their first overall pick, and I’m an American kid. But I just feel like they accepted me so deeply. And I feel like I’m their guy.

“I come to these games, and I’m driving in. Every time I drive in, all I think about is when I see people walking in at 4:30 with Hughes jerseys on – I’m rolling my window and screaming at them. And they love that. But just to represent New Jersey, to represent our fans, I’m so proud to be a Devil. I’m so proud to play for the Blitzer family, the Harris family, the Fitzgerald’s, these people, it means so much to me, so to represent them through all this.

“New Jersey means so much to me.”

Closing thoughts

In closing, Hughes considered his golden goal as a generational moment that inspires the next wave of hockey players.

“It’s just a moment. It’s an unbelievable moment with my life,” said Hughes. “But I’ll never be the guy that’s crazy about it, because it’s all about the team. And it’s just such an unbelievable group of guys that we had, and I’m so looking forward to the times we’re going to enjoy, hopefully every year, where we get together and enjoy this moment.

“But for me, it’ll never be about the golden goal. It’ll always be about our three weeks at the Olympics, and that we’re champions, and just what a special group it was. I said it a million times, but just so proud to be American – and so happy that we could get the job done.”

A golden moment in Jersey. #NJDevils | #MadeInJersey pic.twitter.com/mOnNSzyzFb

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 26, 2026

The Devils are back on the ice Thursday in Pittsburgh squaring off against the Penguins. Hughes is slated to appear on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” Friday.

Rumors are also swirling about a potential appearance on “Saturday Night Live” and other national opportunities, as the Devils star remains in high demand following his unforgettable moment on the world stage.