Olympic Hockey Stars Shine on 'SNL' After Gold Medal Wins

Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Hilary Knight, and Megan Keller appear on 'Saturday Night Live' following their Olympic triumphs.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 2:15am

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U.S. Olympic hockey stars Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Hilary Knight, and Megan Keller made a surprise appearance on 'Saturday Night Live' just days after winning gold medals for the U.S. men's and women's hockey teams. The athletes swapped their skates for cue cards and joined host Connor Storrie on stage, joking about their 'heated rivalry' and a potential White House invite from President Trump.

Why it matters

The appearance of these Olympic champions on 'SNL' showcases the growing popularity and mainstream recognition of hockey, particularly the U.S. national teams' success on the world stage. It also highlights the increasing crossover between sports and entertainment, as top athletes seek to capitalize on their newfound fame.

The details

Just hours after playing in a game for the New Jersey Devils, Jack Hughes rushed to New York City to join his brother Quinn and teammates Knight and Keller on the 'SNL' stage. The athletes poked fun at Storrie's hockey-themed TV show 'Heated Rivalry' and the U.S. President's invitation to the White House, showcasing their comedic chops in front of a live audience.

  • On March 1, 2026, the U.S. Olympic hockey teams appeared on 'Saturday Night Live'.
  • Nine nights prior, the U.S. women's hockey team won gold with a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada.
  • Less than a week ago, the U.S. men's hockey team won gold with a 2-1 overtime win over Canada.

The players

Jack Hughes

A forward for the New Jersey Devils who scored the 'Golden Goal' to deliver the U.S. men's hockey team its first gold medal since 1980.

Quinn Hughes

Jack Hughes' older brother, who plays for the Minnesota Wild and also appeared on 'SNL' with the U.S. Olympic hockey teams.

Hilary Knight

A veteran of the U.S. women's national hockey team and the all-time leading goal scorer and point getter in U.S. Olympic history.

Megan Keller

A member of the U.S. women's national hockey team who scored the overtime winner in the gold-medal game against Canada.

Connor Storrie

The actor who hosted 'Saturday Night Live' and starred in the hockey-themed TV show 'Heated Rivalry'.

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What they’re saying

“We've been so busy playing, we haven't had time to see your show yet. It's about hockey, right?”

— Jack Hughes

“Don't worry, we saw your show.”

— Megan Keller

“It was gonna be just us, but we thought we'd invite the guys, too”

— Hilary Knight

“Yeah, we thought we'd give them a little moment to shine.”

— Megan Keller

“But these gold medals aren't just for us. They're for all hockey fans, yours, too.”

— Jack Hughes

What’s next

Quinn Hughes will return to Minnesota to play a game against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, then fly back to New York to appear on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' with Jack Hughes and Hilary Knight on Monday.

The takeaway

The appearance of these Olympic hockey stars on 'SNL' demonstrates the growing crossover between sports and entertainment, as well as the increasing mainstream popularity of hockey, particularly the success of the U.S. national teams on the world stage.