The goal that ended Canada's hopes of Olympic men's hockey gold on Sunday came from a player who learned much of his game on Mississauga ice.

Jack Hughes scored 1:41 into overtime to give the United States a 2-1 win over Canada in the gold medal game at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games in Italy. It was the first Olympic men's hockey title for the Americans since 1980.

How the final played out

Matt Boldy put the U.S. ahead six minutes into the game, cutting through the Canadian defence and beating goaltender Jordan Binnington. Cale Makar tied it for Canada in the second period.

Canada carried much of the play in the second half of the game, including a lengthy five-on-three power play, and finished with a 42-28 edge in shots, according to the Canadian Olympic Committee. Hughes settled it during three-on-three overtime, despite losing two teeth to a high stick earlier in the game.

We played a really solid game. We had plenty of opportunities to win.

— Tom Wilson, Team Canada forward

Connor McDavid was named the tournament's most valuable player and best forward. The result reversed last year's 4 Nations Face-Off final, which Canada won over the United States in overtime.

A Mississauga hockey upbringing

Hughes, 24, was born in Florida and now plays centre for the New Jersey Devils. His family moved to Canada when he was young after his father became director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs, insauga.com reported.

He played for the Mississauga Rebels of the Greater Toronto Hockey League and won an Ontario Hockey Federation peewee AAA championship, experience he has said sharpened his skills. He also attended Iona Catholic Secondary School in Clarkson for a time, and he and his brothers skated on rinks flooded by volunteers in their Mississauga neighbourhood.

After starring with the AAA Toronto Marlboros, Hughes was drafted by the Ontario Hockey League's Mississauga Steelheads. He chose instead to join the U.S. National Team Development Program in Michigan and went on to become a top NHL draft pick. His brothers Quinn, of the Minnesota Wild, and Luke, his Devils teammate, also play in the NHL.

Asked about his missing teeth after the game, Hughes joked about the care waiting for him in New Jersey.

They got great dentists back home

— Jack Hughes, U.S. forward

Backyard ice still going

The kind of neighbourhood rink Hughes grew up on is still part of winter in the city. Mississauga has 28 natural ice rinks in parks this season, all built and maintained by community volunteers, according to the City of Mississauga.