My sister won’t stop crying while watching hockey. Like many fans, she becomes so invested that we have to watch games at home lest she get too rowdy at a bar. Rowdiness is a quality much celebrated in sports and is equally present among their fan bases.
That rowdiness isn’t the only thing on display; often, so is patriotism—as demonstrated in this year’s Winter Olympics.
This patriotism, and love for the sport itself, can be dynastic, passed down much like hockey traditions are. This kind of inherited patriotism illustrates the role family values play in shaping the broader relationship between individuals and their culture.
Last week, the United States men’s hockey team clinched a 2–1 victory over Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics finals, marking the first U.S. win since the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Winter Games. The U.S. men’s team later attended the State of the Union address and visited the White House at the invitation of the president. Clip after clip has emerged of the team singing the national anthem in nightclubs, openly expressing pride in their affiliation with America.
That was not the only American triumph; the U.S. women’s hockey team also captured a gold medal. However, this victory did not come without attracting controversy. President Donald Trump, who spoke via phone with the men’s team during its locker-room celebration, received criticism for joking that if he invited the men’s team to the White House, he would also have to invite the women’s team. Ellen Hughes, the mother of Olympic men’s hockey stars Jack and Quinn Hughes and a player development consultant for Team USA women’s ice hockey, responded to the viral moment during a Feb. 24 appearance on TODAY, saying, “At the end of the day, it’s just about the country.”
Hughes appears to have passed the same patriotism on to her sons. In an interview conducted in Miami, Jack Hughes remarked, “Everything is so political. We’re athletes—we’re so proud to represent the U.S. And when you get the chance to go to the White House and meet the president, that’s so patriotic.”
The Hughes family showcases the dynastic nature of the sport. Jack, Quinn, and Luke Hughes all play in the NHL, with the two oldest appearing at the Olympics and one scoring the game-winning goal. Their parents, Ellen and Jim, both played and coached hockey themselves.
Likewise, the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew and Brady, also Olympians this year, share a similar heritage. Their father, Keith Tkachuk, played 18 seasons in the NHL, was a five-time All-Star, and is a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Both on and off the ice, these players exhibit strong family bonds and immense pride in one another and in their sport.
This familial love extends even beyond biological ties. An emotional moment moment followed the victory, when players honored the memory of the late Johnny Gaudreau by bringing his children, Noa and Johnny Jr., onto the ice for the team photo. Gaudreau was tragically killed alongside his younger brother in 2024 when they were struck by a car while riding bicycles. Team USA hung Gaudreau’s jersey in its locker room for every game as a tribute. Such is the nature of this beloved sport: a brotherhood that extends not only to the individual but also to their families and children. Such fidelity ought to be the same for all Americans.
The U.S. hockey teams was not the only American victory worth highlighting. Alysa Liu, a figure skater, also earned gold medals. Liu, the daughter of Chinese immigrant Arthur Liu, maintained pride in representing the United States despite her critiques of the administration’s immigration policies. Her father, a pro-democracy activist during the Tiananmen Square era, was smuggled out of danger and eventually settled in America. He has said that America saved his life, and he passed that love of country on to his daughter. In 2022, Liu turned chose to represent the United States despite an alleged spying scheme by China and the pressures of competition. Her return in 2026 serves as a triumphant reminder of that decision, and of how love of country can transcend partisanship.
These sentiments perfectly capture the importance of patriotism, unified beyond party and shaped largely by upbringing and parental instruction. The importance of strong patriotic parenting has rarely felt more important. Love of one’s nation, or the lack thereof, can be just as dynastic as a love for one’s sport.
As my family marveled at the success of the United States hockey teams, my mother remarked how exciting it was to have watched the 1980 game on television when it first happened, and now how thrilling it was to witness another historic victory. My mother and I now share the experience of watching defining moments that reflect the greatness and grit of the country we both love.
I am proud to be an American—and so are my parents.
