26 Million Watch USA's First Hockey Gold Since 1980

At 8:15 on a Sunday morning, America stopped everything to watch hockey. Nearly 21 million viewers across NBC and Peacock witnessed Team USA's dramatic 2-1 overtime victory against Canada for the men's hockey gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

The nation held its breath as Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal at 10:52 a.m. ET. At that moment, 26 million people were watching, making it the second most-watched hockey game in NBC Sports history.

The early start time made the achievement even more remarkable. The game became the most-watched pre-9 a.m. sporting event ever recorded in U.S. history, proving that great sports moments can unite a country at any hour.

For Team USA, the gold medal represented something special. The victory marked America's first Olympic gold in men's hockey since the legendary "Miracle on Ice" in 1980, a 46-year wait that made the win even sweeter for players and fans alike.

The game didn't just succeed on traditional TV. Led by Peacock, 3.7 million viewers live-streamed the game, making it NBC Sports' most-streamed event outside of NFL coverage and showing how modern fans engage with major sporting moments.

Even after the live broadcast ended, viewers kept coming back. Another 2.1 million people watched encores on NBC and USA Network later that Sunday, wanting to relive the historic moment.

Why This Inspires

This viewing record shows something powerful about sports in 2026. In an era of endless entertainment options and divided attention, millions of Americans still come together for moments that matter.

The game succeeded despite every challenge. An 8:15 a.m. start time on the East Coast meant West Coast fans woke up before dawn, yet they showed up anyway because some stories demand to be witnessed live.

NBC Olympics host Mike Tirico captured the moment perfectly in his sign-off: "For all the young people out there, not just the hockey, but all the Olympics you've watched, those dreams are for now. Go chase them and go get them. Because our country loves sports and it brings us together unlike anything else."

The Milan Cortina Olympics became the most-watched Winter Games since 2014, proving that when given compelling stories and accessible coverage, audiences will show up in numbers that surprise even the optimists.

Twenty-six million people sharing one moment, one goal, one celebration shows that in a world that often feels divided, we can still find common ground on the ice.