Jack Hughes of Team USA’s gold medal-winning hockey program is by far the biggest star of all after he was the one to score the final goal in overtime that secured the top spot on the podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. But now the U.S. men’s ice hockey team is teetering on a fall from grace after a controversial phone call with President Trump was leaked following their gold medal win.
Hughes is capitalizing on his fame as the star of the U.S. men’s hockey team by facilitating transactions online that could be seen as even further controversial following recent events. Here’s what to know.
Jack Hughes is Collaborating to Sell Autographed Hockey Pucks Online
GettyGold medalist Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States celebrates following the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
Jack Hughes has taken to the internet to sell signed hockey pucks with his autograph on them in collaboration with the sports merchandise company Fanatics. The pucks are said to be one of the best Team USA deals on the site as they are currently selling for $99. The signed pucks are being sold on the Fanatics website. The effort can be seen by some critics as an effort to maximize his global fame at present and to further profit off of his success in Italy, but for diehard fans of the sport the pucks can be a way to connect them to a star who – along with his team – may be burning too fast for their own good given the recent viral moment that quickly followed their gold medal success.
Along with his teammates, Hughes took part in a phone call with the President of the United States following the men’s national team winning gold in Milan-Cortina. During the call, President Trump made derogatory remarks about not wanting to invite the gold-medal-winning women’s national ice hockey team to The White House along with the men’s team, and the team members are heard laughing in response without anyone stepping in to defend the women’s success and worth as Olympic athletes represent Americans everywhere at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Hughes Has Been Linked to Singer-Songwriter Tate McRae, Causing Further Viral Fan Uproar
GettyTate McRae performs onstage. The pop star is rumored to be dating USA hockey star
Amid the uproar and hysteria that has gone from exuberant and excited after the U.S. men’s hockey team won gold for the United States, to angry and confused after the team was heard on the phone with POTUS when leaked remarks insulting the women’s history-making, and concurrent gold medalist, national hockey team were made, Jack Hughes has been at the center of attention and immense interest for another reason. That’s because he has been linked to singer-songwriter Tate McRae in recent months, with neither party denying the rumors of their relationship following the success of Team USA in Milan-Cortina.
In fact, McRae posted a photo of herself to her social media in the hours following Jack’s game winning goal along with an emoji of a goat and an emoji of a pink heart with an arrow going through it. Though the singer didn’t caption the selfie of herself, the emojis an be interpreted as being lovestruck with the G.O.A.T. – aka the greatest of all time – of the U.S. men’s hockey team. However, McRae’s rumored pairing with Jack Hughes has also drawn criticism from her fellow Canadians as the United States beat her birth country to win the final gold medal of the Winter Olympics on February 22, 2026.
U.S. Men’s Hockey Star Jack Hughes Sells Merchandise Online Following Team’s Controversial Call with POTUS