Minnesota Wild honors Olympic gold medalists in emotional tribute
The Minnesota Wild celebrated Team USA's women's hockey gold medal win in a special ceremony at Grand Casino Arena. Players from the victorious Olympic team were honoured in front of cheering fans. The event recognised their recent triumph at the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina.
The tribute included a video highlight reel, followed by a standing ovation from the crowd. The athletes, dressed in their USA jerseys and gold medals, took part in a ceremonial puck drop before the Wild's game.
The U.S. women's hockey team secured gold on February 19 with a 2-1 overtime victory against Canada. This marked their third Olympic gold medal in history. Among the honoured players were Minnesota Frost stars Kendall Coyne Schofield, Taylor Heise, Grace Zumwinkle, Lee Stecklein, Kelly Pannek, and Britta Curl-Salemme, as well as University of Minnesota player Abbey Murphy.
During the ceremony, Taylor Heise dropped the puck between Wild defenseman Brock Faber and Flyers captain Sean Couturier. As the players left the ice, they exchanged fist bumps with the Wild team. Fans showed their appreciation with a loud ovation after the tribute video played on the arena's big screen.
Elsewhere, the Buffalo Sabres also paid homage to a local hero. U.S. forward and Buffalo native Hayley Scamurra was invited to strike the team's pregame drum before their match against the Washington Capitals.
The ceremony highlighted the achievements of the U.S. women's hockey team and their ties to Minnesota. The gold medallists were recognised for their performance in Milano Cortina, while local fans celebrated their success. The event also showcased the growing connection between Olympic hockey and NHL teams across the country.
