Yet again, Boston College hockey is shining bright on the world stage.
Team USA men’s hockey faced off against arch-rival Team Canada in the gold medal match this morning, capping off the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Three days after former BC women’s hockey player Megan Keller helped Team USA to a gold medal in an overtime win over Canada, another Eagle helped their team to a win. This time, it was former BC men’s hockey player Matt Boldy with the magic touch.
Canada fell 2–1 to the United States in overtime thanks to a slap shot from Jack Hughes, giving Team USA its first Olympic gold medal since 1980’s “Miracle on Ice.”
After the overtime victory, Team USA players skated out with the late Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey.
https://x.com/NBCOlympics/status/2025603778280640588?s=20
Gaudreau, a BC men’s hockey legend, died in August 2024 but likely would have played in Milano Cortina. Gaudreau’s children joined Team USA on the ice to celebrate after the team won gold.
https://x.com/NBCOlympics/status/2025617725654008025
Boldy opened up scoring for both sides as he dribbled the puck between two of Canada’s most revered defensemen, Cale Makar and Devon Toews. Beating Jordan Binnington with a crafty move, Boldy certainly made his mark, scoring Team USA’s only goal in regulation.
Boldy accepted the gold medal alongside former Eagle Noah Hanifin. They are the first Eagles to win gold in Olympic men’s hockey.
Boldy (2019–2021) recorded 57 points across his two seasons at BC. He was a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker his sophomore year after leading the Eagles in goals, assists, points, power-play points (9), and shots on goal (71).
Hanifin (2014–15), at only 17 years old, recorded 23 points in his lone season with the Eagles before joining the Carolina Hurricanes following his freshman year.
Connor McDavid and former Boston University star Macklin Celebrini had been dominant all tournament. The Americans shut those two stars down during the first period of Sunday’s game, but Canada gained momentum after the first period nonetheless, keeping Team USA penned deep in its own zone for 20 minutes.
Makar finally gave Canada the break they were looking for, shooting the puck past Connor Hellebuyck in the latter half of the second period.
Despite Canada’s constant pressure, the star that shone the brightest for Team USA was goaltender Hellebuyck. Recording 41 saves on 42 shots and posting a .976 save percentage, Hellebuyck saved the game on multiple accounts for the United States, making some of the most clutch saves seen in the tournament.
Single-handedly keeping Team USA in the game, Boldy and Hellebuyck’s efforts were the driving force behind the team’s victory.
