Free Bird Becomes Anthem for USA Hockey at 2026 Winter Olympics

Lynyrd Skynyrd's iconic 1973 rock song is the goal celebration music for both the U.S. men's and women's hockey teams in Milan.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The U.S. hockey teams at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan have adopted Lynyrd Skynyrd's classic rock anthem "Free Bird" as their goal celebration song. The song was first used by the U.S. junior national team at the 2025 World Junior Championships and proved so popular with players and fans that the senior Olympic teams decided to keep it for the 2026 Games. The hard-rocking guitar solo in the middle of "Free Bird" has become the soundtrack to numerous American goals, with the crowd enthusiastically responding by waving flags, dancing, and mimicking playing the guitar.

Why it matters

The adoption of "Free Bird" as the USA Hockey goal song has created an electric atmosphere at the 2026 Winter Olympics, with the iconic song resonating deeply with American players and fans. It represents a unique, player-driven tradition that has helped unite the U.S. hockey community and given the games a memorable, signature soundtrack.

The details

Zeev Buium, an American ice hockey defenseman, first proposed using "Free Bird" as the goal song for the U.S. junior national team at the 2025 World Junior Championships. His teammate Lukas Olvestad had introduced him to the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic, and Buium felt it would be a more meaningful and less generic choice than previous goal songs. The U.S. team embraced the idea, and the song's use during their gold medal run earned rave reviews from players and fans. Based on that success, the U.S. men's and women's Olympic teams both voted to adopt "Free Bird" as their goal celebration music for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan.

  • The U.S. junior national team first used "Free Bird" as their goal song at the 2025 World Junior Championships.
  • The U.S. men's and women's Olympic hockey teams voted to use "Free Bird" as their goal celebration song for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

The players

Zeev Buium

An American ice hockey defenseman who first proposed using "Free Bird" as the goal song for the U.S. junior national team at the 2025 World Junior Championships.

Lukas Olvestad

Buium's teammate at the University of Denver who introduced him to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" by constantly playing the song at house parties.

Megan Keller

A member of the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team who scored the overtime game-winning goal against Canada, prompting the crowd to erupt in celebration as "Free Bird" played.

Quinn Hughes

A member of the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team who scored the overtime game-winning goal against Sweden, leading to another rousing "Free Bird" celebration.

Joy Dunne

A forward on the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team who said the team loved using "Free Bird" as their goal song and appreciated the enthusiastic fan response.

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What they’re saying

“We love the song, we hear the fans going crazy and we definitely appreciate it. It makes for an awesome atmosphere to play in, that's for sure.”

— Joy Dunne, U.S. women's Olympic hockey team forward (yahoo.com)

“It's tough to hear on the ice, but when we were at the women's game, it gave me chills.”

— Brady Tkachuk, U.S. men's Olympic hockey team forward (yahoo.com)

“I think it's because it represents what the U.S. is all about. We're all Free Birds.”

— Zeev Buium, U.S. junior national team defenseman (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The U.S. men's hockey team will have the chance to score more goals and cue up "Free Bird" when they face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday night in Milan.

The takeaway

The embrace of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" as the USA Hockey goal song has created an electric, player-driven atmosphere at the 2026 Winter Olympics, showcasing the power of music to unite fans and players around a shared tradition and identity.