TL;DR
- Jack Hughes fixed his teeth after Olympic victory.
- He scored the golden goal against Canada.
- Hughes’ injury was primarily dental.
- His mother praised his mouth guard.
- He continues to shine with the Devils.
Jack Hughes is back on the ice, and this time, he’s sporting a smile that could light up the rink! After leading Team USA to a glorious gold medal at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics, Hughes had a little dental drama that needed fixing. Just a month after breaking his teeth in a nail-biting final against Canada, he’s ready to dazzle fans once again.
On February 22, during the gold medal game, Hughes took a hit to the face from Canada’s Sam Bennett, which left him with a few chipped teeth. But that didn’t stop him from becoming the hero of the match. With the score tied at 1-1, Hughes scored the golden goal in sudden-death overtime, securing Team USA’s first hockey title since 1980. Talk about a comeback!
Fast forward to March 17, Hughes confirmed he had his top teeth repaired and is now back with the New Jersey Devils, where he’s been scoring points like a champ. Hughes’ mother, Ellen, expressed her relief that it was just his teeth that were affected, saying, “I’m so happy he wears a mouth guard. I can’t even imagine how many more teeth he would have lost without a mouth guard.”
Dr. Jason Auerbach, the official oral surgeon for the New Jersey Devils, chimed in about the importance of mouth guards, stating, “If you take a slap shot to the face, the velocity of the puck is so great that even though it’s protected — and it does protect to some degree — there will be some injury.”
During his post-Olympics media tour, Hughes made a guest appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where he humorously addressed his dental mishap. When asked if the chipped tooth would become his signature look, he replied, “I can promise you, this won’t be my thing.”
As he finishes the season with the Devils, Hughes has already racked up 21 points since his Olympic glory. He’s not just a hockey player; he’s a symbol of resilience and pride for his team and fans. Auerbach couldn’t help but share his pride for Hughes, saying, “I felt a ton of pride for the USA, for him in particular. He’s a New Jersey Devil. I live and brought my family up in New Jersey. Yeah, it was a ton of personal pride.”
So here’s to Jack Hughes, the hockey star with a new smile and an even brighter future ahead. Whether he’s scoring goals or charming audiences on late-night TV, he’s definitely a player to watch!
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