Episode S3 · Ep 77 February 23, 2026 1 hr 33 min

USA Wins Gold, Hughes The Hero ft. James van Riemsdyk | Morning Cuppa Hockey

From Morning Cuppa Hockey The Nation Network

Season 3 rolls on with a golden edition of Morning Cuppa Hockey as Jonny Lazarus and Colby Cohen break down Team USA capturing gold at the 2026 Milan Games. The guys dive into the emotional win over Canada, the three-on-three overtime debate, and why Connor Hellebuyck delivered one of the most impressive goalie performances in Olympic history. They react to the viral youth rink celebrations, debate whether the Americans were too fired up or perfectly justified, and discuss what this moment means for USA Hockey moving forward. Plus, James van Riemsdyk joins the show to share where he watched the game, the nerves of seeing former teammates chase gold, the culture inside USA Hockey, and how players like Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski elevated their reputations on the world stage.

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Chapters

0:00 Welcome + USA wins gold

0:43 Colby’s reaction + emotional aftermath

5:46 Youth rink celebrations + 2010 comparisons

8:10 Locker room energy + viral moments

10:31 Celebration debate: act like you’ve been there?

16:14 Three on three OT debate

22:46 Hellebuyck’s tournament + MVP talk

25:37 James van Riemsdyk joins the show

29:56 USA Hockey culture breakdown