US men’s hockey stars toute faith in Christ on path to gold

In a thrilling climax to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Jack Hughes and Connor Hellebuyck delivered Team USA its first men’s hockey gold medal in 46 years on Sunday, ending a drought that dated back to the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980. 

While the gold-medal matchup remained locked at one goal apiece through regulation, Hughes emerged as a national hero after scoring the overtime game-winner against Canada, securing the historic victory with what has been deemed the “Golden Goal.”

Hellebuyck, a goalie who plays in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets, delivered one of the best performances of his career, stopping 41 of 42 Canadian shots, making one great save after another when his team needed them most, and living up to his reputation as one of the best goalies in the world.

In addition to the historic win, members of the U.S. men’s hockey team have publicly shared their personal testimonies that helped shape their careers on the ice.

All-Star defenseman Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes played a key role in Team USA’s victory by proving to be a consistent stopper on the way to the gold. 

But Slavin says whatever he’s able to do on the ice is because of what Jesus Christ has done for him. Speaking on an October 2024 podcast of Sports Spectrum, a media arm of the Christian ministry Pro Athletes Outreach, Slavin said his faith is “everything.”

“He’s Lord of my life. If He’s not Lord of everything, He’s not Lord at all,” Slavin said. “He’s a gracious Friend. I live my life because of Him and what He did for me. My purpose in life, my purpose in my marriage, my purpose of being a father, it’s all to glorify Him because He’s worthy of that glory.”

In a 2023 podcast, Team USA center Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres shared how his Christian faith changed him at the age of 13.  

“That’s where my faith really started to turn from just going through the motions, and a title of being a Christian, to understanding the actual relationship part of walking with Christ and the sacrifice that He made for all of us,” Thompson told the Sports Spectrum podcast in July 2023.

Thompson, who scored goals in three Olympic contests on the path to gold in Milan, also spoke of how his walk of faith changed once he recognized the sovereignty of God over his life. 

“I think when you take a step back and realize that God’s in control and He has a plan for you and His plan is far better than anything that we could ever imagine, you just kind of give it over to Him and sit back and enjoy the ride,” he said.

Following their gold medal win, Team USA members skated around the ice holding up the jersey of Johnny Gaudreau, an 11-season NHL winger who was killed along with his brother by an alleged drunk driver in August 2024.

Known as “Johnny Hockey,” the 31-year-old Gaudreau was a part of the Catholic community and was a standout along with his brother Matthew at Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey.

Prior to this year’s Games in Milan, the Gaudreau family released a statement to express how much their son wanted to be a part of Team USA’s journey, adding, “Representing Team USA at the Olympics was one of his greatest dreams. … John loved this game and loved representing his country.”