Wild honor Team USA gold medalists with pregame ceremony

The Minnesota Wild honored their Olympians on Sunday, prior to the team’s game against the St. Louis Blues at Grand Casino Arena.

After celebrating all 10 Wild players who represented their country at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, the team welcomed the ceremonial American flag bearer, Ford Christian to the ice. Christian is the grandson of 1980 Olympic gold medalist Dave Christian.

The Wild went on to welcome the staff members who represented Team USA in Milan: general manager Bill Guerin, head coach John Hynes, assistant general manager Chris Kelleher, athletic trainer John Worley, massage therapist Travis Green and orthopedic surgeon Joel Boyd.

Finally, the three Wild players representing the United States made their way onto the ice: defenseman Brock Faber, forward Matt Boldy and defenseman Quinn Hughes.

The group posed for a photo at center ice as “U-S-A!” chants rained down and “Free Bird” played at the arena.

Hughes -- fresh off his appearance on "Saturday Night Live" -- finished the Olympics as Team USA’s leading scorer with eight points, including the game-winning goal in the overtime quarterfinal victory over Team Sweden.

He also led the team in ice time, which included extra time after he waived off his change just before scoring that game-winner in the quarterfinals.

Boldy recorded the assist on that Hughes goal, then opened the scoring in the gold medal game against Team Canada.

Faber scored in the 5-1 win over Germany and had an assist in the 6-3 win over Denmark in pool play.