There’s no doubt the U.S. men’s hockey team captured the nation when they beat their archrival Canada in the gold medal game in a thrilling 2–1 overtime victory at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The heroes were led by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who delivered one of the most memorable performances in international hockey history, stopping 41 shots while facing relentless pressure from the Canadians.
The other hero was Jack Hughes, the dynamic forward for the New Jersey Devils, who scored the golden goal during 3-on-3 overtime. It marked the United States’ first Olympic gold in men’s hockey since the 1980 Winter Olympics, the legendary “Miracle on Ice,” when a group of American underdogs shocked the world.
But the celebrations didn’t end in Italy.
After closing out the Milan Winter Games, Team USA was originally scheduled to return to New York. However, a powerful winter storm forced a change of plans, and the team instead flew to South Florida aboard ITA Airways. When their plane touched down at Miami International Airport, they were greeted with a hero’s welcome that included a ceremonial water cannon salute from airport fire crews, a tradition typically reserved for milestone flights and championship teams.
Video from the arrival showed team captain Auston Matthews stepping off the plane first, sunglasses on and gold medal proudly around his neck. Teammates followed to cheers from fans gathered inside the terminal. Clips shared online by the NHL and USA Hockey quickly went viral, with supporters chanting “USA! USA!” in celebration.
The festivities continued across Miami, where the team rode through the city aboard a double-decker open bus en route to the trendy Miami Design District. According to reports and social media posts, the players were expected to spend the evening celebrating at the hotspot E11EVEN Miami with an open-bar party alongside friends, family, and supporters.
The whirlwind tour isn’t over yet. Tomorrow, the team is scheduled to travel to Washington, DC, where they are expected to attend the State of the Union address. President Donald Trump called the team to congratulate them on their historic victory and here’s the video of him offering to arrange military transportation if needed.
After decades of waiting, Team USA is back on top of the hockey world, and the celebration has only just begun.