Plymouth — In the wake of Team USA’s gold medal win over Team Canada in the 2026 Olympic Hockey Tournament, it’s worth mentioning this stunning victory—our first since the 1980 Miracle team—wasn’t an accident. It came from decades in development right here in Metro Detroit.
Twenty-two of the 25 players on the team are products of the USA Hockey National Development Team (NTDP), spending time in their teenage years on the big sheet at USA Arena in Plymouth.
Originally birthed in 1996 in Ann Arbor, the program was housed at The Ice Cube, where American-born players began matriculating into the NHL, including current Red Wing Patrick Kane, America’s career NHL points leader.
In 2015, USA Hockey purchased Compuware Arena in Plymouth from Carolina Hurricanes owner Pete Karmanos and moved their 17U and 18U teams into their new home. By that time, USA Hockey had become so successful at launching players to the NHL that talented teenagers were being pulled from across the nation into the sleepy suburban hideaway, including the sons of a former American all-time great.
Anyone taking in high-level Junior A hockey a decade ago may have witnessed two brothers referred to as “animals” by their father. Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, the sons of former NHL power forward Keith Tkachuk, each spent their formative years scoring highlight-reel goals and throwing hands for the NTDP. Apparent to me and most others back then: The brothers were going all the way to the show.
All three Hughes brothers, Jack, Quinn, and Luke, ran through this program where whispers filtered through the Metro Detroit area: “These boys are different.” How different? Jack sacrificed his teeth to a high stick only to score the game winner in OT, trading chiclets for Olympic Gold!
The list of names goes on and on. The alumni rolls are full of all-stars who found their way to Italy in 2026, including our guy: Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan “200-foot game” Larkin, now a veteran of international play.
Emerging as an inspirational leader for USA in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, Larkin was seen carrying USA Hockey on his back in Italy, using his blazing speed and defensive forward skills to light the lamp and shut down the top lines on the opposing team. Larkin, who is as fast as Canada’s “McJesus,” shut down the hallowed #97 in the Gold-medal game.
But these guys are even better than we even realize. It wasn’t just skill and speed that carried USA to the Gold. An unseen force was behind them the whole way. The spirit of their fallen American brother-in-arms, “Johnny Hockey” Gaudreau, was a hot wind at their back.
USA Hockey players are different. The men who emerged out of Ann Arbor and Plymouth are better.
The best team in the world.
Jay Murray is a writer for Michigan Enjoyer and has been a Metro Detroit-based professional investigator for 22 years. Follow him on X @Stainless31.
