The United States made history at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games by winning gold in men’s hockey, women’s hockey at the Olympics, and sled hockey at the Paralympics. This rare hat-trick highlights U.S. dominance on ice, thrilling fans worldwide. In February 2026, the U.S. women’s team beat Canada 2-1 in overtime, with Megan Keller scoring the winner, staying undefeated at 6-1-0-0. The men’s team also defeated Canada 2-1 in OT, Jack Hughes netting the golden goal for their first title since 1980. On March 15, the sled hockey team crushed Canada 6-2 in the Paralympics final, Jack Wallace scoring a hat-trick; this marked their fifth straight Paralympic gold.
Team USA earned 24 medals overall at the Paralympics—13 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze—finishing second behind China (44 total, 15 gold). This matched their 2018 gold haul, their best in 20 years, across four sports with 28 athletes on the podium. Defender Josh Pauls won all five Paralympic golds, a unique record.
FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions]
1. What is the U.S. gold medal hat-trick?
The U.S. won gold in men’s and women’s Olympic hockey (February 2026) and sled hockey at Paralympics (March 15, 2026), first nation to sweep all three at Milano Cortina.
2. Who were key players in these wins?
Megan Keller scored OT winner for women; Jack Hughes for men; Jack Wallace’s hat-trick and Josh Pauls’ defense led sled hockey to 6-2 victory over Canada.
3. How did U.S. perform overall at Paralympics?
Team USA took 24 medals (13 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze), second to China, best gold showing in 20 years with podiums in four sports.
(*Image Source- The Guardian)