Hellebuyck Backstops Team USA to Olympic Gold
2/22/2026 12:21:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
LOWELL, Mass. – Former River Hawks standout goaltender Connor Hellebuyck captured Olympic gold on Sunday, backstopping Team USA to a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Canada in the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Hellebuyck was once again the backbone of the American squad, turning aside 41 shots in the championship contest. His most pivotal moment came early in the third period with the game deadlocked, when he delivered a highlight-reel stop to deny a point-blank Canadian opportunity and set the stage for the eventual overtime winner.
Throughout the tournament, Hellebuyck proved to be the premier goaltender on the world stage. He finished the Olympics with a tournament-best .956 save percentage, leading all netminders and anchoring a United States team that captured its first gold medal in men's hockey since 1980.
The Commerce Township, Michigan native established himself as one of the top goaltenders in the NCAA during his time at UMass Lowell from 2012-2014, before embarking on a standout professional career with the Winnipeg Jets. Now, he adds Olympic gold medalist to his decorated résumé.
For his performance throughout the 2026 Olympic tournament, Hellebuyck was named Best Goalie and earned himself a spot on the Media All-Star Team.
Hellebuyck was once again the backbone of the American squad, turning aside 41 shots in the championship contest. His most pivotal moment came early in the third period with the game deadlocked, when he delivered a highlight-reel stop to deny a point-blank Canadian opportunity and set the stage for the eventual overtime winner.
Throughout the tournament, Hellebuyck proved to be the premier goaltender on the world stage. He finished the Olympics with a tournament-best .956 save percentage, leading all netminders and anchoring a United States team that captured its first gold medal in men's hockey since 1980.
The Commerce Township, Michigan native established himself as one of the top goaltenders in the NCAA during his time at UMass Lowell from 2012-2014, before embarking on a standout professional career with the Winnipeg Jets. Now, he adds Olympic gold medalist to his decorated résumé.
For his performance throughout the 2026 Olympic tournament, Hellebuyck was named Best Goalie and earned himself a spot on the Media All-Star Team.
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