Team USA and their fans react to Olympic win
MILAN, Italy (NBC, KYMA) - 46 years after the "Miracle on Ice" stunned the world in Lake Placid, Team USA has done it again.
In a thriller that will be remembered for generations, the U.S. Men's Hockey Team defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime Sunday, capturing Olympic gold and securing just the third gold medal in American Men's Hockey history.
History doesn't repeat itself often but when it does, it sounds a lot like this.
"Yeah, it's you dream of winning a gold medal for your country. A lot of talk for us was breaking the drought. We thought this was the group that could do it, and we're gold medalists. We're champions. Tonight, we're the best in the world," said Jack Hughes, a member to Team USA.
"It means the world just to have this gold medal around my neck right now? I mean, it's, like I said, it feels like it's it's been too long since us is one of those guys. I think it's time now, like the amount of players that are coming through USA Hockey that are playing, you have to be put it on the map," said Auston Matthews, another member of Team USA.
"This is an absolute dream come true, just to do it alongside him, but the rest of my brothers is, this is truly a special field. But no, I mean not just the guys necessarily, and our family and friends, but I mean, every first responder and everybody that serves protects our country like this is for them," said Brady Tkachuk, another member of Team USA.
"We had the most fun of ever. So many laughs, so many inside jokes. You can't say one thing without getting made fun of. So it was absolutely insane. It's a great group," said Matthew Tkachuk, another member of Team USA.
"It means a lot. I'm very proud to represent the USA and this is a personal dream, but also a lot of people back home are very proud of us," said Connor Hellebuyck, another member of Team USA.
"It's a family. I mean, we had so many people from past teams call us before games, and we got everyone's letters, and we read all them, and I just feel like USA Hockey is a really good job for the program and building that family aspect. And I've known some, some of these guys since seven, eight years old, so it's crazy," said Quinne Hughes, another member of Team USA.
U.S. fans packed into the Milan Fan Zone exploded in celebration hugging strangers, singing the national anthem, and watching history unfold together.
"This is the most amazing moment, like of my life right now, on top of the world," said Jack Parry, a Team USA fan.
"My whole life it was like, Canada is kind of like the best set hockey and hey, you know, I kind of like taking that from them," said Gideon Parry, another Team USA fan.
"It's great. We won the game the Olympic gold medal, which is already, like, something that looks so good. I think that the defense was on point. Maybe the offense was slacking a little bit in the end, but then on overtime, they like, they put it all and they actually made it," said Oscar Pavzedner, another Team USA fan.
