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Governor Mikie Sherrill is set to celebrate a golden moment in New Jersey sports history tonight, joining fans at a New Jersey Devils game in Newark to honor Jack Hughes and the U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team.
Hughes, the Devils star center, became an American hero on Sunday (February 22) when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give Team USA its first Olympic gold medal since the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980. The dramatic win came in Milan, Italy, where the U.S. defeated rival Canada in the gold medal game.
The victory was hard-fought. Hughes lost some teeth after taking a high stick to the face in the third period, but he refused to leave the game. Just 1 minute and 41 seconds into sudden death overtime, he put the puck in the net to seal the win for the United States.
The celebration at the Prudential Center caps a remarkable Olympic run for New Jersey. Seven Devils players competed in the Games, though Hughes was the only one to represent Team USA. The others played for their respective home countries.
Hockey fans flooded social media after the final buzzer, with many calling Hughes a national hero. Governor Sherrill's appearance tonight is expected to be a formal recognition of his achievement and the team's historic gold medal performance.