Team USA Hockey Breaks TV Records with 20.7M Viewers
America's thrilling overtime gold medal hockey win attracted 20.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched early morning sporting event in U.S. history. The nail-biting 2-1 victory over Canada captivated a nation and brought families together before 9 a.m. on a Sunday.
Twenty million Americans set their alarms early on a Sunday morning, and they witnessed something unforgettable.
Team USA's 2-1 overtime victory against Canada in the Olympic gold medal hockey game drew a combined 20.7 million viewers across NBC and Peacock. The game became the most-watched pre-9 a.m. sporting event in U.S. television history.
The match started at 8:15 a.m. Eastern Time, a slot when most Americans are still reaching for their coffee. But hockey fans across the country tuned in, glued to their screens as the U.S. battled its northern rival for Olympic glory.
The audience peaked at 26 million viewers when Jack Hughes scored the golden goal in overtime. That single moment united more Americans before breakfast than most primetime shows attract during peak hours.
The victory marked NBC Sports' second most-watched hockey game ever. Only the 2010 Vancouver Olympics gold medal game, which started at a more viewer-friendly 3:15 p.m., drew more total viewers.
Streaming numbers told an equally impressive story. The game attracted 3.7 million viewers on Peacock, making it the platform's most-watched streaming event outside of NFL games.
The Ripple Effect
The record-breaking viewership reflects something bigger than sports statistics. Millions of families gathered around televisions and laptops on a Sunday morning, sharing a collective experience that transcended hockey.
The victory sparked celebrations from Milan to Miami, where the team partied at the famous E11EVEN nightclub just hours after their win. On Tuesday, the players visited the White House, where President Trump announced that goalie Connor Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his outstanding performance.
The team even made an appearance during the State of the Union address. Trump also announced an upcoming White House visit for the U.S. women's hockey team, who similarly defeated Canada in overtime for their own gold medal.
These moments of national pride remind us why we love sports: they bring us together when we need it most.
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Based on reporting by Fox News Latest Headlines (all sections)
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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