The Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel hardly resembles an Olympic cathedral, yet for several days it transformed into the unofficial gateway to the Milano Cortina Winter Games. As Team USA athletes streamed in from across the globe, their first destination was a specially constructed welcome center in the hotel's atrium. Major sponsors had erected elaborate booths—Ralph Lauren with on-site tailors, Skims showcasing performance wear, New Era fitting caps, even Starbucks serving familiar American coffee. The scene resembled a high-end trade show crossed with a homecoming celebration, complete with media crews from outlets like Access Hollywood documenting every moment.
Among the early arrivals, hockey's Hughes brothers navigated the sponsor village with the ease of seasoned professionals. Jack and Quinn Hughes had departed JFK on an overnight flight, their Olympic journey beginning not with pomp and circumstance, but with a practical stop to collect their Team USA gear. At the Ralph Lauren station, they received their closing ceremony outfits: striking color-blocked parkas emblazoned with "2026," a tangible symbol of their Olympic participation and a keepsake they would treasure regardless of the tournament's outcome.
The presence of media cameras might have overwhelmed athletes fresh off a transatlantic flight, but the Hughes brothers handled it with characteristic poise. "We're not too bad," Quinn replied when asked about jet lag, his answer reflecting the understated confidence of elite competitors who have mastered the art of performing under any circumstances. This nonchalant attitude masks the intense preparation and dedication required to reach this level, where every detail matters and mental fortitude separates good from great.
At 26, Quinn Hughes has established himself as one of hockey's premier defensemen. Currently with the Minnesota Wild, he previously starred for the Vancouver Canucks, where during the 2022-2023 season he led all NHL defensemen in scoring. His ability to quarterback a power play and transition the puck from defense to offense makes him invaluable. His younger brother Jack, at 24, centers the New Jersey Devils and holds the franchise's single-season points record—99 points from 43 goals and 56 assists—set that same season. Jack has earned three All-Star selections; Quinn has two. These accomplishments place them among the NHL's elite American-born players, a testament to their skill and work ethic.
The Hughes brothers represent more than individual excellence—they embody a hockey dynasty. Their mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, skated for the US Women's National Team, capturing a silver medal at the 1992 World Championships. Now she serves as a consultant for the US women's hockey team at these Olympics, where her expertise contributed to a historic 5-0 victory over archrival Canada. The shutout marked the first time in Winter Games history that Canada's women's team failed to score, a testament to the growing strength of American women's hockey and the Hughes family's continued impact on the sport across generations.
The family's hockey lineage extends to younger brother Luke Hughes, who also plays for the New Jersey Devils alongside Jack. Three brothers in the NHL is rare; three brothers potentially winning Olympic medals is unprecedented. Yet for the Hughes siblings, the mission transcends family milestones. The opportunity to compete together on the international stage adds a layer of meaning to their already remarkable careers, creating memories that will last long after their playing days end and establishing a legacy that future American hockey families will aspire to match.
The pursuit of gold dominates their thinking. "I think all three of us have come to try to win the gold medal. That's the most important thing: coming here and trying to do well," Jack stated plainly. The opportunity to share this experience with Quinn adds another dimension. "Doing this with Quinn, though… it is super special, and it's something that I've really been looking forward to." These words capture the balance between individual ambition and family connection that defines their Olympic experience, showing how personal relationships can drive athletic excellence.
The Milano Cortina Olympics mark a pivotal moment for international hockey. For the first time in 12 years, active NHL players compete for their countries. Since the 2014 Sochi Games, scheduling conflicts and league priorities kept the world's best talent away from the Olympic stage. The absence created a void—fans missed seeing their favorite stars represent their nations, and players missed the chance to compete for Olympic glory. The 2018 PyeongChang Games featured a mix of college players and European professionals, but lacked the star power of the NHL, diminishing the tournament's prestige and global appeal.
The return of NHL stars transforms the tournament's competitive landscape. Team USA's roster features not just the Hughes brothers but another sibling pair: Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, sons of former NHL star Keith Tkachuk. This concentration of family talent highlights hockey's generational nature—skills, passion, and work ethic passed down through bloodlines. The Tkachuk brothers bring their own brand of physical, skilled play to a team already loaded with talent, creating a roster deep with both skill and familial chemistry that could prove decisive in close games.
For Jack and Quinn, the Olympic opportunity represents the culmination of childhood dreams. Growing up in Orlando, Florida—hardly traditional hockey territory—they developed their skills through dedication and family support. Their journey from Florida rinks to NHL stardom to Olympic ice exemplifies the expanding reach of American hockey beyond its traditional northern strongholds. Sunbelt hockey has produced elite talent, challenging the notion that the sport belongs exclusively to cold-weather states and proving that passion and proper development matter more than geography.
The brothers' complementary skills could prove crucial for Team USA. Quinn's defensive vision and puck-moving ability from the blue line pairs perfectly with Jack's offensive creativity and scoring touch up front. Their innate chemistry, honed over years of backyard games and training sessions, translates to on-ice synergy that coaches cannot manufacture. This natural connection gives Team USA an advantage that extends beyond individual talent, creating a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
As they collected their Ralph Lauren gear at that Milan airport hotel, the Hughes brothers understood the symbolism. The parkas represent the Olympic experience—the ceremonies, the village life, the cultural exchange. But first comes the competition. First comes the ice. First comes the chance to etch their names not just in NHL record books, but in Olympic history alongside the greatest American hockey players like Mike Modano, Chris Chelios, and the 1980 Miracle on Ice team.
The road to gold runs through Milan's airport hotels and practice rinks, through family legacies and brotherly bonds, through years of waiting for NHL players to return to the Games. For Jack and Quinn Hughes, that road now stretches clearly before them, paved with opportunity and the weight of expectations from a hockey family that has given so much to the sport. The world will be watching as these brothers skate onto Olympic ice, carrying the hopes of a nation and the pride of a family that has made hockey its life's work. Their story embodies the Olympic spirit—dedication, family, and the pursuit of excellence on sport's biggest stage. When the puck drops, all the pageantry fades, and it becomes about what happens between the boards, where the Hughes brothers have always felt most at home.