AceShowbiz - Millions of American viewers woke up early to watch the thrilling conclusion of the 2026 Winter Olympics as Jack Hughes scored the decisive goal that secured the men’s hockey gold medal for Team USA. The NBC broadcast of the game averaged an impressive 20.7 million viewers, marking it as the most-watched pre-9 AM ET sporting event in U.S. history.

Jack Hughes delivered the winning goal in overtime, ending a 46-year gold medal drought for the U.S. men’s hockey team. During the intense final moments from 10:45 to 11 AM ET, the combined NBC and Peacock audience surged to an astounding average of 26.0 million viewers as fans tuned in to witness the historic victory.

Despite this monumental achievement, the 2026 final remains the second most-watched hockey game in NBC history. The top spot is still held by the 2010 Vancouver Olympic men’s hockey final between the U.S. and Canada, which drew even higher viewership numbers.

On the women’s side, the gold medal game between the U.S. and Canada averaged 5.3 million viewers, a strong showing though it fell short of the 7.5 million viewers for the 2010 Vancouver women’s final. The continued rivalry between these teams suggests fans will eagerly anticipate a rematch in future Olympic games, possibly as soon as 2030.

This record-breaking broadcast highlights the enduring popularity and passion for hockey in the United States, especially during the Olympic Games when national pride and sportsmanship come together on the world stage.