Jack Hughes' Mom Ellen, Brother Quinn React to His Lost Teeth
Jack Hughes went viral after scoring the winning goal for Team USA at the 2026 Olympics, and for losing a couple of teeth during the victory.
The photo of his wide gap-filled smile has quickly become iconic, especially since he was wrapped in the American flag. Now, his mother, Ellen Hughes, and his brother, Quinn Hughes, are reacting to his tooth loss. Ellen Hughes and Jack's dad, Jim Hughes, appeared on the TODAY Show on February 24. Team USA men's hockey is expected to attend the State of the Union address on February 24.
According to People, Jim Hughes and Ellen Weinberg-Hughes "share three sons: Quinn, Jack, and Luke." All three play professional hockey. Quinn and Jack played on the Olympic team, and Luke is a player for the New Jersey Devils.
Jack Hughes' Mom, Ellen Hughes, Says He Has Lost Teeth Before: 'He Has Such an Infectious Smile'
(Photo by Andrea Branca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Jack Hughes has lost teeth before, but his mother admitted it can be difficult to watch.
“The first time he lost a tooth, they were able to rebuild it and then he put a mouth guard in. I thought for sure the mouth guard would save him, but, obviously, I was wrong," she told TODAY. "He has such an infectious smile and hopefully they will get it back to the same level at some point."
Ellen Hughes indicated that she finds it difficult to watch her son lose teeth. “Definitely watching him get in the face with a stick,” she said, when asked to describe the most agonizing part of watching her son compete.
“I mean, I’m so happy he wears a mouth guard. I can’t even imagine how many more teeth he would have lost without a mouth guard. But it was right in front of us and I can tell you that Quinn, his brother, was on the ice and he saw the teeth go down," she said to TODAY. "We saw him picking them up, and I was glad it was teeth and nothing more."
She added: "What are you going to do? He’ll have a good dentist. He’ll get it fixed. And what a moment.”
Jack Hughes also revealed his brother Quinn's reaction. “It’s funny how things work out because the first guy closest to me when I’m laying on the ice is obviously my older brother, and he has the puck, and you can see it, he’s like, he’s looking at me to see what’s going on with my teeth,” Jack Hughes said on TODAY.
“And I remember him coming up to me and being like, ‘It’s all good, man. It’s only chips. You’re going to be OK,'” he recalled.
Both Parents Are Athletic: Ellen Weinberg-Hughes & Jim Hughes Also Played Hockey
(Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
According to Olympics.com, Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes play for the Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils, respectfully. Both were players on the men's Olympic team.
Their mom, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes is "the player development coach for the U.S. women’s Olympic team," Olympics.com reported.
According to that site, Ellen was a "three-sport University of New Hampshire athlete" who "competed in the 1994 IIHF World Championships and won silver." Her career as an athlete ended before women's hockey debuted at the Olympics.
“So it’s pretty cool, all three of us can be a part of our first Olympics together, and hopefully we're taking home gold medals,” Jack said to Olympics.com.
The brothers' dad, Jim Hughes, also played hockey in college and then became a coach, People reported. He served as the director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs and for the talent agency CAA Hockey.