A USA hockey gold medal showing would have been sweet no matter what. But this one featured the United States beating our neighbors to the north at their own game. And it didn’t take long for Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal, to become a household name.
In a now-iconic photo, Hughes is seen postgame with the American flag draped over his shoulders. The snap is made even more American because he is smiling a bloodied grin that showcases several missing teeth. A third-period stick to the face didn’t affect his game. He sped down the ice, got a pass, sailed the puck into the net, and made history.
According to leftists, this history is now problematic. Why? Because, in the locker room, while on a call with President Donald Trump, the players laughed at his joke about inviting the women’s team to the White House. And now they are sexists, and we are told not to celebrate.
As a mother to two young boys, I reject this hysteria. Thankfully, it appears to be largely online. But the fact that it exists bothers me. Liberals are desperate to be victims. It is their currency. And too often, men are caught in the crossfire. Hughes and his teammates are the latest targets.
It doesn’t matter that Hughes and the entire team have consistently supported the women’s team. It doesn’t matter that in a postgame interview, Hughes said, “Tonight was all for the country.” It doesn’t matter that he is an avid reader who, with his brother, started a literacy program for youth in New Jersey. He is apparently deserving of the spittle-flecked wrath of those who probably never wanted the team to succeed in the first place.
Hughes and his team threw their bodies and minds into sport. What we saw on the ice in one game is the result of years of dedication. In 2019, ESPN asked Hughes to write a letter to his future self. He wrote, in part: “And remember those winters? All day and night on the outdoor rink with Quinn and Luke? That’s where everything started. Your brothers made you who you are on and off the ice. … Maybe you even suited up with them a couple of times in the NHL. Maybe we all represented the United States at the Olympics or World Championships. Maybe we won a gold medal (or gold medals) together. What an honor that would be.”
I watched the game and loudly cheered for the USA. My youngest son stood and watched as these smiling athletes with gold around their necks sang the national anthem. I would love to see that famous photo of Hughes plastered all over our country. He is a perfect example of hard work and dedication. He is even a proud display of masculinity. All those things are worthy of celebration.
We live in a time when too many of the wrong people are revered, and our eyes are fixed on phone screens. We see and experience so much wonder that the simple joys of athletic feats can almost seem mundane. But they’re not.
The current faux outrage directed at the men’s hockey team is an online phenomenon. It is fueled by bitter feminists and jealous sportswriters. In the real world, we are proud of both the men’s and women’s teams and their gold medal wins.
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My sons don’t play hockey. There are no plans for them to do so. But I want my 5-and 9-year-old boys to see him on their cereal box. Not because it will make them lace up skates and pick up a stick. But because that image can spur a dream. It’s the kind of childhood dream that makes you believe anything is possible. That with enough determination, you can be the best in the field you choose. That the joy of accomplishment can’t be dimmed by a bloody face or missing teeth.
I’m not angry at Jack Hughes. I want to shake his hand. We are short on heroes. He is one.