USA Hockey stars recall painful injuries on ‘Tonight Show'

Team USA’s golden trio relived their historic wins, surprise proposal and whirlwind media tour on late-night TV.
Get more newsUSA Hockey stars recall painful injuries on ‘Tonight Show'NBC News LogoSearchSearchLiveNBC News LogoToday Logo | Latest News Todayon
Listen to this article with a free account

The victory tour continues for Team USA’s hockey stars.

After a “Saturday Night Live” cameo over the weekend, Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes and Hilary Knight sat down with Jimmy Fallon for “The Tonight Show” on Monday.

The trio had a busy Milan Cortina Olympics, helping the U.S. win gold in men’s and women’s hockey in the same Games for the first time.

Sign up for NBC News’ The Sports Desk newsletter

Knight scored the game-tying goal late in regulation of the women’s gold medal game, then Jack netted the overtime winner for the men a few days later.

Knight, in her fifth Olympics, also had an exciting trip personally. She got engaged, proposing to Team USA speed skater Brittany Bowe just before winning gold. The only problem was that she was standing on a grate when she decided to get down on one knee, which made for a tricky but memorable proposal.

“I was really nervous during the Olympics and logistically it just made sense with her schedule and my schedule,” Knight explained to Fallon with Bowe sitting in the audience. “I just went full send and didn’t think about the grate until I was hovering over it, half-kneeled.”

.S. hockey Olympic gold medalists Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes and Hilary Knight talk Jimmy Fallon
From left, Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes and Hilary Knight talk with Jimmy Fallon on Monday.Todd Owyoung / NBC

As for the men, they had to wait a few days after watching the women win gold before they took the ice against Canada. But they made the most of that extra time, joining NFL legend Tom Brady in a suite to watch the women’s game.

“He was the most pumped out of all of us, too,” Jack said, before Quinn added, “No one was happier than Tom; he was jumping up and down.”

For their gold medal game, Jack scored the decisive goal — but it didn’t come before his front tooth got chipped. Still badly needing a trip to the dentist, Jack said his older brother reassured him during the game — even though it was much worse than Quinn made it seem.

“I just remember Quinn, he was the first guy closest to me, and I remember him coming up to me at the TV timeout, and he’s like, ‘It’s not that bad. It’s only chipped,’” Jack said.

Quinn, 26, and Jack, 24, were roommates in the Olympic village. It was an experience that they both want again in 2030, with their younger brother Luke (22, who was also in the audience) hoping to join them.

Knight, though, still thinks 2026 was her last Olympics after playing on a torn MCL. She hasn’t missed the event since debuting in 2010, but the 36-year-old feels like this was the perfect way to go out.

“As of now, this is definitely my last (Olympics),” she said. “I mean, storybook ending, amazing team to go out with, just incredible win, double golds. Couldn’t have been written better.”