Jim Hughes is standing in the family room at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena operated by the National Hockey League Players’ Association for use during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
There are kids running around with family and friends connected to the two teams set to play.
There is something both joyful and comforting about the vibe here. Maybe it’s Hughes himself who is quiet and thoughtful as you might imagine a lifelong player, coach and skills guru would be.
While he has worn many hockey hats over the years – player at Providence College, assistant coach in the National Hockey League peppered with minor pro coaching stops, to player development specialist for one of the largest hockey agencies in the world and leading off-season workouts to some of the game’s top players – in this moment Hughes’ role in this room, in this moment, is dad.
“For all these families that are in this room right here, it’s a process. It’s a lifetime of experience,” Hughes explained.
“These kids have been going at this since they were eight, nine, 10 and 11. They are trained mentally and physically in preparation. They understand how to play with pressure. They are true professionals. Then you get into moments like this. You use all your survival skills. You use all the things that you've used over a lifetime of experience. It all kind of comes into one,” Hughes said.
As it turns out all of those elements are coming together for one epic game against a United States archrival Canada for a gold medal game of the ages that will close out these Olympics, the first featuring NHL players since 2014.
Hughes, of course, is father to two U.S. Olympians, forward Jack and defenceman Quinn. Both have been critical to their team’s success in this tournament as they hit the gold medal game undefeated. Quinn scored the overtime winner in the quarterfinal nailbiter against Sweden. Jack has been a dynamo seeing his role increase with each passing game.
In the end the work will get done on the ice, by the players. But it doesn’t diminish the importance of the people in this room and what it means for them to come together at this event.
“We have been to a bunch of world championships. And certainly, a bunch of world junior [championships]. But this is a whole different level,” Hughes said.
In some ways the Hughes family perspective on all of this is unique. The matriarch, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, was a consultant with the U.S. women’s team that won a gold medal by beating Canada in overtime earlier this week.
And if the men can replicate that outcome on Sunday it stands to reason that one of Jack or Quinn, or both, will have a hand in securing what would be the first gold medal won by the U.S. men’s team since 1980.
“We are really excited as a family,” Hughes said. “We have the Olympic spirit. We are really enjoying the experience.”
With three boys in the NHL – Luke plays with Jack in New Jersey – you might have imagined the Hughes family has been chomping at the bit waiting for the NHL’s return to the Olympics. But that’s not the Hughes way.
“We really didn't give it a whole lot of thought. We just went one step at a time,” Hughes said.
It has always been about the progression for the boys. Hours of fun time playing on outdoor rinks in Toronto when Hughes was on the club’s coaching staff and then in a player development role with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. Then the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, then college hockey and then hoping to make it to the NHL. Then trying to be a difference-maker at the NHL level.
“Plant your feet where you are,” Hughes said. “And just keep getting better. It's a process. It's about the process of being where your feet are.”
“But to become an Olympian. That's a whole other level,” Hughes added. “You look at these teams. In particular the Canadian team and the American team. They are the hardest teams to make in the world. It's quite an honour for all of these players.”
If it truly is the pinnacle for the players to be playing in these Olympics then it is also the pinnacle for the families who have joined them here because they have born witness to the determination and sacrifices that go into becoming an Olympian.
“There's synergy. People understand each other. They understand the path. They understand how hard it is to get here. I think we've all traveled similar paths. When we get here, it's gratification,” Hughes said. “I think there's a sense of unity. That we're all in this together. And it's a really fun event.”
Okay, so maybe Hughes isn’t just in normal dad mode watching Quinn and Jack and the rest of Team USA roll undefeated to the gold medal game. Maybe he’s not exactly wired that way.
“I'm watching it technically. I'm watching it closely. Play by play. Looking at the execution and how we're playing,” he said.
Hughes described meeting U.S. Olympic speed skating heroes Bonnie Blair and Eric Heiden at the Team USA headquarters and listening to them talk about their own journeys to Olympic success and some of the adversity they faced.
“Mental toughness type stories,” Hughes said. “It was kind of a joy last night to meet those particular folks.”
On Sunday afternoon the Hughes brothers will have the opportunity of a lifetime to write their own story of Olympic glory.
But Hughes said there is little in the way of nervousness at what lies ahead.
“These guys are so prepared, in so many ways,” Hughes said. “They've got just a great team with great coaches. And it's been well put together. We're just here to support in any way we can. And enjoy this moment as a family. And all of our friends and people that we've met along the way. There's a sense of satisfaction and certainly patriotism. I know that my kids are very grateful to be here.”
“I mentioned the Olympic spirit. It's a very prideful moment,” Hughes added. “For American hockey. For the United States of America. We're probably all sharing the same emotions.”
(Feature photo courtesy of Getty Images)