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The Team USA men’s hockey team has drawn significant sports media coverage after their 2026 Winter Olympics finale, and their win over Canada proved to be massive for NBC.
The Americans captured their first Winter Olympics gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980. Meanwhile, hockey fans were clearly locked in on the overtime victory based on huge TV ratings.
Team USA men’s hockey drew an average of over 20.7 million viewers for the gold medal game, including a peak viewership surpassing 26 million Olympic watchers.
MORE: USA men’s hockey team parties on Air Force One after Olympic gold medal
Sports reporter Joe Pompliano indicated the massive NBC TV number is the largest viewership an American sporting event has ever had, with a pre-9 a.m. ET start.
Many sporting fans were questioning the decision to start the men’s hockey final at 8 a.m. ET, however, the results appear to speak for themselves after the USA men’s hockey team went on to win in dramatic fashion.
NBC will certainly be thrilled with the success of the Milan Cortina Games, especially as hockey led the way with fans watching. Meanwhile, other Olympic stars were born, such as Eileen Gu, Alysa Liu, and others.
Just days after the USA women’s hockey team secured gold against Canada, Jack Hughes and Co. were able to achieve the same goal in Italy. The NHL stars are still living it up after their success on the ice, but now the league is eagerly waiting for its players to return to action.
MORE: NFL legend calls out ‘insufferable’ Winter Olympics skier Eileen Gu
United States players celebrate in a men’s hockey game during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Mandatory Credit: David W Cerny/Reuters via Imagn Images
Team USA players even had the chance to travel on Air Force One to visit Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. The American hockey stars received a White House invite from President Donald Trump for the State of the Union address.
OLYMPICS: Final 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings
NFL: 4 blockbuster NFL trades we want to see before the 2026 draft
NFL DRAFT: 2026 NFL Scouting Combine day-to-day TV schedule, how to watch
MLB: MLB Power Rankings as 2026 Spring Training begins
NBA: Updated NBA Power Rankings as a new week begins
VIRAL: Watch Johnny Gaudreau’s children join Team USA hockey gold medal celebration
The post USA men’s hockey draws record Olympic gold medal TV viewership appeared first on The Big Lead.
Continue reading...
The Americans captured their first Winter Olympics gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980. Meanwhile, hockey fans were clearly locked in on the overtime victory based on huge TV ratings.
Team USA men’s hockey drew an average of over 20.7 million viewers for the gold medal game, including a peak viewership surpassing 26 million Olympic watchers.
MORE: USA men’s hockey team parties on Air Force One after Olympic gold medal
BREAKING: Team USA's 2-1 overtime win over Canada averaged 20.7 million viewers and peaked at 26 million live viewers for the game-winning goal.
That makes it the most-watched pre-9 a.m ET sporting event in U.S. history. pic.twitter.com/KsWhwREBgx
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) February 24, 2026
Sports reporter Joe Pompliano indicated the massive NBC TV number is the largest viewership an American sporting event has ever had, with a pre-9 a.m. ET start.
Many sporting fans were questioning the decision to start the men’s hockey final at 8 a.m. ET, however, the results appear to speak for themselves after the USA men’s hockey team went on to win in dramatic fashion.
NBC will certainly be thrilled with the success of the Milan Cortina Games, especially as hockey led the way with fans watching. Meanwhile, other Olympic stars were born, such as Eileen Gu, Alysa Liu, and others.
Just days after the USA women’s hockey team secured gold against Canada, Jack Hughes and Co. were able to achieve the same goal in Italy. The NHL stars are still living it up after their success on the ice, but now the league is eagerly waiting for its players to return to action.
MORE: NFL legend calls out ‘insufferable’ Winter Olympics skier Eileen Gu
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United States players celebrate in a men’s hockey game during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Mandatory Credit: David W Cerny/Reuters via Imagn Images
Team USA players even had the chance to travel on Air Force One to visit Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. The American hockey stars received a White House invite from President Donald Trump for the State of the Union address.
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OLYMPICS: Final 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings
NFL: 4 blockbuster NFL trades we want to see before the 2026 draft
NFL DRAFT: 2026 NFL Scouting Combine day-to-day TV schedule, how to watch
MLB: MLB Power Rankings as 2026 Spring Training begins
NBA: Updated NBA Power Rankings as a new week begins
VIRAL: Watch Johnny Gaudreau’s children join Team USA hockey gold medal celebration
The post USA men’s hockey draws record Olympic gold medal TV viewership appeared first on The Big Lead.
Continue reading...