While there may not be a person on Earth happier than Jack Hughes after scoring Team USA’s golden goal, his brother Quinn might be a close second.
After taking down Canada in the gold-medal game at the Olympics, Quinn Hughes spoke highly of his brother, noting his perseverance and taking a shot at some of his detractors in an emblazoned post-game interview.
“People don’t know s—,” Quinn said of Jack’s haters, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic. “There’s a bunch of idiots out there, and no one’s rehabbed before. There’s reporters out there saying this and that. They don’t know what it’s like to get surgery for six months, not really feel good for 10 months, and do that back to back.
“For him to just persevere and keep believing and just keep going no matter what happens — he’s a special guy, special player.”
Jack, after struggling with Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off with only one assist through four games, was a standout forward for the red, white and blue at the Olympics.
Aside from scoring the overtime winner against Canada, he finished the tournament with seven points (four goals, three assists) in six games. His goal against Slovakia in the second period of the semifinal also stood as the game-winner, putting the U.S. through to the gold-medal game.
But it hasn’t been an easy path for the 24-year-old, as injuries have sidelined him for stretches over the last few seasons. He missed 20 games last year and was unable suit up for the New Jersey Devils in the playoffs after a season-ending shoulder injury.
Over his seven-year NHL career, Jack has had to undergo two separate shoulder surgeries.
“People have no idea how hard this journey has been for him, dealing with injuries and battling through so much to be the player he is,” Quinn said to Jackie Redmond of NHL Network. “I mean, he loves this game more than anyone. He’s one of the best players in the world, and I’m so glad everyone got to see why today.”
While Jack will take the glory for the golden goal against Canada, Team USA wouldn’t have been in that spot had it not been for the contributions from Quinn, who netted an overtime winner of his own in the quarterfinal against Sweden.
