MN Wild Stars Reflect on Olympic Gold and Return to NHL Action
DENVER – Brock Faber couldn’t believe the whirlwind that awaited him and his American teammates after securing Olympic gold on Sunday in Milan. From a celebratory trip to Miami and a lively party at a club, to a visit to the White House, the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. “I thought maybe I’d be practicing when I got back,” the Minnesota Wild and U.S. defenseman said Thursday, smiling. “It was a hectic, crazy, crazy, crazy few (days).”
Fellow U.S. Olympian and Wild teammate Quinn Hughes echoed that sentiment. “It’s crazy it’s over,” he said. Matt Boldy, the Wild forward who scored the opening goal in the U.S.’s 2-1 victory over Canada, described it as “a rollercoaster of emotions.” “I don’t think I’ve ever shed a tear from happiness like that on the ice, looking around and taking it all in, finding my family in the crowd. A lot of emotion.”
Faber, Boldy, and Hughes rejoined the Wild on Wednesday morning, catching a charter flight to Denver for Thursday’s game against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. Despite the whirlwind, all three are expected to be in the lineup, playing their regular roles.
Ready to Re-Focus on the NHL
“I feel like we owe it to the Wild to make sure we’re at our best,” said Hughes, who was named the tournament’s top defenseman. “There shouldn’t be a reason why not. We played in the best hockey game anyone has ever watched or played in. I don’t think the game has ever been played at that speed or that skill. I think going from that to this, we should be ready to go.”
The players unanimously agreed that their favorite moments were those shared on the ice, embracing teammates and spotting loved ones in the stands. “The people, that’s the reason you’re there,” Faber explained. “So emotional. It was an incredible time. The hugs on the ice, the hugs off the ice with people you love the most, is so special.”
Hughes, whose overtime goal propelled the U.S. past Sweden in the semifinals, shared the celebration with his brother, Jack, the hero of the gold-medal game. “When that goal goes in, it’s pure joy,” Hughes said. “Just hugging everyone on the ice. I’ve never been part of anything like that. And who knows if I ever will be again?”
From Miami to Washington D.C.
The celebration took the team from a flight to Miami, where they enjoyed a party at a club (with J.T. Miller shining as a karaoke star), to Washington, D.C., following a controversial joke made by former President Donald Trump regarding the U.S. women’s gold-medal team. They were subsequently invited to the State of the Union.
“We were flying everywhere, and we didn’t want it to end,” Hughes said. “We didn’t want to leave the guys. It was funny before the last day, we were all saying how depressed we were because it was already over pretty much. Just a great group of guys, and we were able to accomplish what we wanted to accomplish. And I’ll cherish it forever.”
Impact on the Wild’s Playoff Push
Wild coach John Hynes, who served as an assistant for the U.S. team, discussed with the players the impact of winning a gold medal and the confidence that comes with championship success. “We’ve all lost big games, and we’ve won big games,” Faber said. “The biggest games, it’s so weird going into the game. It’ll be the best day of your life or the worst day of your life. It’s huge. It brings so much confidence, knowing it’s possible.”
The Wild currently trail the Dallas Stars by one point for second in the Central Division and are seven points behind the Avalanche, who have two games in hand. The upcoming head-to-head matchups against Colorado will be critical if Minnesota hopes to close the gap. “We know how they play. They’re one of the best teams in the league right now,” Faber said. “We’re going to have to be at our best. They’re skilled. They’re fast. They’re physical. We have to play our game.”
Source: The Athletic
