Jack Hughes cements his place as an Olympic — and American — hero

With a chipped front tooth and blood spilling from his mouth, wrapped in the American flag and elation, 24-year-old Jack Hughes is already an Olympic legend.

Immediately after slamming the puck between the legs of the Canadian goalie in overtime, he delivered gold to team USA hockey for the first time since the Miracle on Ice stars in 1980.

This, after older brother Quinn Hughes, 26, a defenseman for the Minnesota Wild, smashed the overtime game-winning goal against Sweden in the quarterfinals.

The two Jewish brothers bring pride and glory to all people of our fractured nation. Jack put it best with these few, heartfelt words:

“This is all about our country right now,” he said in a post-game interview at the Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy Sunday.

“I love the USA. I’m so proud to be American today.

“I love my country. I love my teammates.”

Then Jack, a center for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL, joined his squad as they sang the national anthem. The young men had tears in their eyes as shiny medals were placed on their chests.

But it was clear this wasn’t just about the hardware. This miraculous underdog victory was a gift to the people of America. To every last one of us.

And boy do we need that. Right now.

Until Jack reminded us about the greatness of our country, we seem to have forgotten what the Olympics were all about. The spirit of the games is one of national unity and international peace. Of putting aside our differences for two weeks while we watch sports. Competitors from diverse nations, races, backgrounds and political persuasions getting along.

Instead, negative voices such as that of American freeskier Hunter Hess jockeyed for attention and warped the message of unity. He said before the games even began, “Just because I’m wearing the flag
doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.” This prompted President Donald Trump to brand him “a real Loser” and suggest he be tossed from competition.

He’s not the first athlete/activist to enrage millions and delight a few by using their platforms as heroes to bash America, a land that’s perhaps imperfect, but still the greatest nation on earth.

In 2016, now-retired American Olympic soccer star Megan Rapinoe started her stubborn campaign of kneeling every time the anthem played within earshot, saying it was her way of protesting for “social justice.”

She insisted her petulance against the nation that gave her fame, wealth and an international following didn’t mean she “hated” her country. Even as her repeated actions represented a gross insult to our flag.

Some in the media saw this as powerful. For this Olympics, they baited athletes like Hess to diss America. The Huffington Post quoted therapists to explain the “discomfort” you’re feeling from fans chanting “USA.”

The majority saw all this as divisive and disrespectful.

Long after the America-haters become a footnote in of history, the voice of a single athlete, proud and strong, will resonate.

Jack Hughes spreads a message not of hate but of love. Love of country, love of each other. Heck, he even had kind words for his Canadian opponents.

We can all learn something precious from the admirable men who won for Team USA.