In 2019, Jack Hughes envisioned himself not only representing the United States with his brothers, but winning a gold medal.
That came true seven years later.
Hughes scored the golden goal for Team USA in its thrilling 2-1 overtime win over Canada on Sunday to lift the Americans to their first gold medal since 1980.
FloHockey’s Chris Peters asked Hughes in 2019 to write a letter to his future self. In the letter, the New Jersey Devils star discussed the the days and nights at the hockey rink with his brothers, Quinn and Luke.
“That’s where everything started. Your brothers made you who you are on and off the ice,” Hughes wrote. “I hope they’ll be able to say you did the same for them and that they had great NHL careers too.
“Maybe you even suited up with them a couple of times in the NHL. Maybe we all represented the United States at the Olympics or World Championships,” he continued. “Maybe we won a gold medal (or gold medals) together. What an honor that would be.”
Luke, who plays on the Devils alongside his brother, was not named to Team USA this year, but Quinn was. The Minnesota Wild defenseman had a clutch goal against Sweden in overtime to send USA to the semifinals.
Before he scored the game-winning goal Sunday, Hughes took a high stick that resulted in some missing teeth.
“I looked on the ice and saw my teeth,” Hughes, who lost a tooth a few years ago, said, per the Associated Press. “I was like, ‘Here we go again.’”
The Hughes brothers won’t have a lot of time to celebrate together. The Devils return to action Wednesday, while the Wild play Thursday.