Jack Hughes Receives Standing Ovation from Pittsburgh Fans

Jack Hughes, a standout player for Team USA, was met with a warm reception on Thursday from fans in Pittsburgh. The crowd gave him a standing ovation during the announcement of the starting lineup before the Pittsburgh Penguins secured a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena.

This marked the second day in a row that Hughes was honored, as the Devils’ home crowd had also shown their appreciation for his recent Olympic performance.

At just 24, Hughes has quickly risen to fame as one of the NHL’s most popular American players, especially after scoring the decisive goal in Team USA’s overtime win against Canada during the gold medal match.

It’s likely that he will continue to receive such adoration on the road in American arenas, although things might be different in Canada, where he may face boos instead.

This week has been particularly eventful for Hughes. Following Team USA’s win in Milan, he celebrated in Miami at the lively nightclub E11even. After those festivities, he and his partner traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet President Donald Trump and attend the State of the Union address on Tuesday.

The Devils’ first game back after the Olympic break was on Wednesday, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres. Despite the loss, Hughes managed to assist on the team’s only goal, a bright spot in what was otherwise a challenging couple of games.

Hughes’ current season shows he has played 38 games, achieving 12 goals and 26 assists, averaging one point per game. The Devils will look to bounce back when they face the St. Louis Blues on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.