Jack Hughes Plans Dental Repair Following Olympic Triumph
New Jersey Devils forward and Team USA hero Jack Hughes, who has been flashing a toothless smile since winning gold at the Winter Olympics in Milan, has announced when he intends to restore his dental appearance. Hughes, alongside fellow gold medalist Caroline Harvey, visited the Times Square branch of the fast-food chain Raising Cane's recently, engaging with media just weeks after their national victory.
Dental Details and Playoff Priorities
With the NHL playoffs approaching, Hughes confirmed his intention to address his missing teeth promptly. 'Yeah, the amount of dentists that have reached out, man, it's too many,' Hughes told the Daily Mail. 'But I'm going to get them fixed, hopefully this week.' The 24-year-old athlete, who scored the crucial goal securing the American men's first medal since 1980, humorously noted, 'I think people will be pissed if I do get them fixed.'
Growth of Hockey in the United States
Both Hughes and Harvey reflected on the sport's expansion in the country following their Olympic success. Harvey, a University of Wisconsin standout, described it as 'a super exciting time' for women's hockey, attributing increased attention to the Olympics. 'I think, obviously, the Olympics brought a lot of attention around that and a lot of eyeballs, especially women's hockey, just women and just hockey in general,' she said. Harvey, who is set to join the PWHL soon, added, 'It's super special to be a part of it at this time and going into the league next chapter ahead. But yeah, I'm just enjoying the ride and just trying to keep growing that.'
Focus on Fun and Future Generations
Hughes emphasized the importance of enjoyment in sports, particularly for young athletes. 'The thing about sports is, at least when we were kids... it's all about having fun, enjoying it,' he explained. 'I know it's so cliché, but when you're eight years old, it's all about enjoying the sport, having fun, loving it, having a passion. Not like, "How am I going to make the NHL?" when you're eight years old.' He stressed that while focus and hard work increase with age, the foundation should always be pleasure and passion for success.
Emotional Support for Women's Team Victory
Hughes shared his intense emotions while watching the U.S. women's team defeat Canada for gold, alongside his brother Quinn Hughes. 'Me and Quinn were at that full game. We [were] going to leave after the second period. Then they were down 1-0,' he recalled. 'You get nervous for your own game sometimes, but man, we were stressed so big for these guys up in the crowd. Because I think they beat the Canadian women's team seven times in a row leading up to the gold medal game.' He noted the unpredictability of sports, where a superior team can still lose key matches, and expressed relief when the women's team scored late and won in overtime.
Historic Double Gold Achievement
Despite needing to prepare for a game against Slovakia the next night, Hughes celebrated the dual victories. 'We just wanted to get it done with them. I don't think the men's and women's team have ever won together,' he said. 'For us to do that with them, pretty special. Take home two golds, that's a leap for USA Hockey right there.' This historic achievement marks a significant milestone for American hockey, highlighting a moment of national pride and sporting excellence.
