Team USA Olympic heroes Quinn and Jack Hughes hide a deep Canadian secret
Photo credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes just handed Mike Sullivan Olympic gold. But the foundation of that massive victory traces straight back to Ontario, Canada.
The Hughes brothers dominating the international stage is the standard. Beating Canada in the Milano-Cortina final makes it so much sweeter for the Americans.
The irony here is rich. The exact skills they used to shatter Canadian gold medal dreams were actually forged right in the heart of Toronto.
As pointed out in a recent article on NHL.com, their father, Jim Hughes, spent a full decade working for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. His tenure in the city officially started back in 2006.
He served as an assistant coach and director of player development for the Toronto Marlies. The family planted roots in the hockey-mad suburb of Etobicoke.
Life up north gave the boys unrestricted access to the sport at its highest levels. They ate, slept, and breathed hockey every single day.
Jim recently admitted that Toronto's undeniable passion for the game helped his three kids excel. The environment pushed them to greatness.
A Bitter Canadian Pill To Swallow
When they were not on the ice playing, they were in the stands or on the couch watching. Hockey was everywhere in the city, and they absolutely loved it.
Now, Jack Hughes is an elite NHL center with tremendous transition game speed. Quinn Hughes dictates the entire pace from the blue line with crisp passing and vision.
Both brothers were heavily relied upon during the gold medal matchup against their former neighbors.
The offensive output they generated was simply impossible for Canada to contain over sixty minutes.
The Americans held their ground against a heavily favored Canadian roster. The Hughes brothers essentially used Canada's own elite development environment against them on the ice.
A decade in the Greater Toronto Area molded them into the superstars they are today. The local reps and the intense hockey culture played a massive part.
Hockey fans north of the border must be sick to their stomachs today. The golden boys of American hockey are direct products of Ontario.
Team USA gets the ultimate bragging rights, the gold medals, and the history books. Canada just gets to watch the players they helped raise hang another banner.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 24|152 ANSWERS Team USA Olympic heroes Quinn and Jack Hughes hide a deep Canadian secret Does Canada deserve credit for developing the Hughes brothers? | ||
| Yes | 95 | 62.5 % |
| No | 57 | 37.5 % |
| List of polls | ||