The United States' third Olympic gold medal in men's hockey was also the third in the family.
The 34-year-old Colorado star's grandfather Bill Christian was part of the team that won Olympic gold in Squaw Valley in 1960, and his uncle Dave Christian was part of the "Miracle on Ice" in Lake Placid in 1980, when an American college national team beat the then-dominant Soviet Union and ultimately won Olympic gold.
"I spoke briefly with my uncle. It was special - completely crazy that it was 46 years ago today, and it's very emotional with my grandfather also being home," he says in the victory-fueled mixed zone, where the players meet the journalists.
“Means everything to me”
The gold medal hangs around the players' necks and the smiles go from ear to ear. Especially on Brock Nelson.
"My grandfather means everything to me. He took me to the rink and skated with me when I was little. He is still my biggest supporter," he says.
The USA has had great success at the junior level for many years. Now the men's national team is also starting to make an impression. The World Cup gold at the Globe last year was the first for the United States in 93 years. Now they have broken a long Olympic gold drought as well.
"It's been a long time since the last Olympic gold. I know what that 1980 gold meant to the generation that came after and to hockey in the United States. Now we've written our own history here; it's a proud moment," says Detroit forward Dylan Larkin.
Jack Hughes scored the winning goal for the USA after just 1:41 of overtime in a quick turnaround.
Silenced the critics
But the biggest gold hero was goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck, who saved 41 of 42 shots in the Canadian barrage.
"It's crazy, this was the biggest game of my career, but when I woke up this morning I wasn't nervous at all. Everything just felt right," says the Winnipeg goalie, who has won the Vezina Trophy three times as the NHL's best goalie but has been criticized for his playoff efforts and told he's not a winner.
"This gold means a lot. I will never take this medal off. The critics can keep writing, but they don't understand the job of a goaltender. I know what I do and what I have built; now I have proven it," he says.
2026: United States.
2022: Finland.
2018: OAR (Olympic Athletes from Russia).
2014: Canada.
2010: Canada.
2006: Sweden.
