Jack Hughes debuts new smile at Yankees' home opener after losing teeth in Olympic gold medal game

Jack Hughes flashes new smile at Yankees home opener

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes debuted a restored smile at the New York Yankees' home opener against the Miami Marlins on April 3, 2026. The Team USA Olympian threw the ceremonial first pitch alongside women's hockey gold medalist Aerin Frankel. Hughes had lost several teeth to a stick in the mouth during the men's team's overtime victory over Canada in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics gold-medal game.

Hughes scored the game-winning goal for the United States in that Feb. 22 final at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. He told reporters he prepared by throwing about 50 pitches before a recent morning skate, though his shoulder grew sore. "I was like, ‘We gotta cool it,’" he said.

Hughes expressed hope after the Olympics that he might throw out a first pitch at Yankee Stadium. "When everything went down, this was, like, the one thing I was wondering if it would happen," he said, according to NHL.com. "Opening Day. Like, wow. That's almost too much, man. That's a lot of pressure."

Frankel, a New York native and the U.S. women's goaltender, joined Hughes for the event. "It's been awesome," she said. "First time in history the women's and men's teams have done that together. So, to be able to continue the celebration here in New York for opening day was so much fun."