Team USA's gold medal triumph over Canada sets viewership record

Members of Team USA's men's hockey team talk to reporters after landing back in Miami after winning gold at the Winter Olympics on 'The Story.'

The U.S. men’s hockey team did not just make history on the ice but on television as well. 

Team USA’s 2-1 overtime win over Canada on Sunday was the most-watched pre-9 a.m. ET (start time) sporting event in U.S. history, NBC Sports said. 

The game averaged a combined 20.7 million viewers and 18.6 million live (8:15 a.m –11 a.m. ET) on NBC and Peacock, the network’s streaming service. The rating peaked at 26 million viewers for Jack Hughes’ golden goal. 

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The U.S. team poses for a group photo after defeating Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026. (Luca Bruno/AP Photo)

It is NBC Sports’ second most watched hockey game ever, behind the 2010 Vancouver Olympics men’s gold medal game, in which Canada defeated the United States in overtime, winning 3-2. That game began at 3:15 p.m. ET. 

The thrilling gold medal win was Peacock's and NBC Sports’ most-watched streaming audience, excluding NFL games, at 3.7 million viewers.

Brady Tkachuk, Jack Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes attend a celebration of the U.S. men's hockey team's Olympic gold at E11EVEN in Miami, Florida, on Feb. 23, 2026. (Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)

The U.S. men’s team's thrilling victory kicked off an exhilarating stretch, as the team flew from Milan to Miami to celebrate their win in the famous Miami nightclub E11EVEN. On Tuesday, they were flown to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. 

The team made an appearance during the State of