The United States Men’s Hockey Team made history on Sunday, February 22, 2026 by becoming the first team to win the gold medal since the 1980 men’s team, who did so 46 years ago.
Buffalo Sabres Center Tage Thompson was a part of the gold medal winning team, and was a contributor with Team USA en route to their monumental win over Canada. In the six games Thompson participated in, he recorded 3 goals and an assist, which would help team USA reach the gold medal game, where they would overcome Canada in a 2-1 overtime victory.
Now a gold medalist, Thompson is the only American-born player to win a gold medal as a Buffalo Sabre. He joins other gold medalist Sabres Dominik Hasek and Richard Smehlik (both from Czech Republic) who won the Nagano Olympic games back in 1998.
After achieving such a sacred accomplishment, it was only right that Team USA celebrated their first gold medal in 46 years. The men’s team would return home from Milan and immediately celebrate their win back home at Miami’s E11even nightclub.
GettyTeam USA celebrates gold medal win
Team USA Celebrates Gold Medal Win in Miami
Thompson would celebrate with teammates Jack Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, Quinn Hughes, Jack Eichel, Brady Tkachuk, Connor Hellebuyck, and others by chanting U-S-A, and singing the Star-Spangled Banner. Team USA would also rack up a $150,000 tab in the booze-filled celebration, which would be paid off by former NFL Punter Pat McAfee.
The celebration would only continue from there, as the men’s team was formally invited by President Trump to join him at the White House in Washington D.C. and to attend the State of the Union address. Team USA players were seen eating McDonalds with President Trump, as well as spending time conversing in the Oval Office.
GettyThompson and Hughes at center ice before their game
Sabres Resume Winning Form
With the Olympic break now over, NHL teams returned back into the action to resume the latter half of the season. For the Sabres, this meant traveling down to Newark, to take on the New Jersey Devils, the first team the Sabres played since the Olympic break a couple of weeks prior. The Sabres would face off against their fellow Eastern Conference opponents Wednesday night at the Prudential Center, looking to start out strong and tally another win.
Prior to the game being started, the Devils would honor their alternate captain Jack Hughes for his role in helping Team USA win gold. Hughes was a massive contributor to Team USA, and scored the golden goal in overtime to help America win their first gold medal in 46 years.
While being celebrated, Hughes would compassionately skate over to Buffalo’s bench and call Thompson to join him at center ice, before delivering a short speech to the crowd. Thompson would also be honored by the Devils and joined Hughes for the ceremonial puck drop.
The Sabres would go on to beat the Devils in this game, with a 2-1 win over New Jersey. Thompson would record a goal in the second period, followed by a goal from his teammate Peyton Krebs in their victory.
Tage Thompson Brings Home the Gold