Hockey

Hockey star Laila Edwards' life has changed dramatically since capturing Olympic gold ... but there's still one dream she hasn't made reality yet -- meeting Billie Eilish!

That's what the 22-year-old University of Wisconsin athlete told TMZ Sports when we caught up with her in New York City, while discussing the attention she's gotten since the 2026 Winter Games.

"I met some really cool people like Megan Thee Stallion, Snoop Dogg. It's the coolest thing ever," Edwards said.

Jack Hughes is looking like a new man these days -- the U.S. men's hockey Olympic hero was flashing his new chompers out at Yankee Stadium for the team's home opener ... where he's set to throw out the first pitch!

The cameras were rolling as Hughes hit the field during the Bronx Bombers' batting practice, and it's hard to look at anything other than his new smile.

Hughes reportedly had the procedure done a few weeks ago, moving away from the iconic look he rocked after taking a stick to the mouth during the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Games -- where he scored the winning goal for Team USA.

Days after NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three kids were tragically killed in a devastating fire at their Minneapolis home ... the Tampa Bay Lightning shared a touching gesture as they welcomed the Minnesota Wild to town -- leaving an open spot in the press box for the longtime beat writer.

The team's social media account posted a photo of the spot in the media room reserved for Pierce, which featured her name on a card and a vase of flowers.

Before the puck was dropped, there was also a moment of silence in the arena for Pierce.

Jack Hughes can keep pushing all he wants … but it sounds like that golden goal puck is staying put -- permanently.

Despite the New Jersey Devils star publicly blasting the Hockey Hall of Fame and trying to reclaim the piece of history, the Hall is making one thing clear to TMZ Sports: it’s not going anywhere.

Enter Phil Pritchard -- aka the “Keeper of the Cup” and VP of the Hall -- who basically shut the door on Hughes’ hopes.

Jack Hughes officially has beef with the Hockey Hall of Fame -- the Team USA hero says he can't wrap his head around why his golden goal puck currently lives in Toronto ... claiming that piece of history belongs to him!!

The New Jersey Devils star shared his feelings known in an interview with ESPN on Tuesday ... saying he's actively working on getting his hands on the puck.

"I'm trying to get it," Hughes said. "Like, that's bulls*** that the Hockey Hall of Fame has it, in my opinion. Why would they have that puck?"

USA baseball is looking to channel a little Olympic magic ahead of the World Baseball Classic final against Venezuela ... as the team pulled up to the ballpark rocking game-worn sweaters from the gold medal-winning men's hockey team!

Each member of the squad got to rep a different player as they made their way to the crucial matchup ... and it was all thanks to Fanatics.

The captain of Team USA baseball, Aaron Judge, was handed the jersey of Auston Matthews -- who captained the men's hockey team during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Other players spotted in the Red, White and Blue included Mason Miller, David Bednar, Logan Webb and Bryce Harper.

Pete Crow-Armstrong made it clear he called dibs on "his boy" Jack Hughes ... adding they wanted to show how the men's hockey team winning it all has inspired them during their WBC run.

Connor McDavid proved he's got hands on Thursday ... the NHL star shockingly started throwing haymakers aimed squarely at his opponent's face during an on-ice melee -- and it was intense!

The one-on-one went down after a small fight erupted at the end of the second period of the Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars game at the American Airlines Center.

Broadcast footage showed McDavid going right at Stars role player Justin Hryckowian during the fracas, yanking on his black and green jersey while throwing left-handed jabs at his face.

Jack Hughes says the U.S. men’s hockey team felt the pressure in the best way possible after watching the women bring home gold -- because once that happened, they knew they had to finish the job.

TMZ Sports caught up with Hughes during a fan event at Raising Cane's … where the Olympic champ helped serve fans alongside Team USA women’s star, Caroline Harvey.

Hughes says he and his brother, fellow NHL defenseman Quinn Hughes, were actually in the building for the women’s gold medal game -- and the nerves were real.

Tate McRae’s heating up the romance department ... 'cause she's reportedly gone official with hockey star Jack Hughes!

According to Us Weekly, the pair are now exclusively dating after they started casually seeing each other late last year.

They also report the connection started when Jack slid into her DMs on IG ... and Tate apparently thinks he’s a really cool guy, even hitting up his games to cheer him on. As you know ... Hughes was on the U.S. Olympic hockey team that brought home gold in Milan just two weeks ago ... he plays professionally for the New Jersey Devils.

Hilary Knight can relate to the hit show, "Heated Rivalry" -- the U.S. women's hockey legend says her love story with her partner, Brittany Bowe, has some similarities!!

Knight chopped it up with Ilona Maher's "House of Maher" podcast, fresh off her appearance on Connor Storrie's episode of "Saturday Night Live" -- and the gang got to talkin' about the actor's popular series.

"It was kind of wild for me to watch that," Knight said.

Jack Hughes' iconic holey smile has been cemented in Olympic history, but it will soon be no more -- the Team USA hero said he refuses to make it his "thing" after returning from Italy with a gold medal.

Jack and Quinn Hughes and Hilary Knight skated by the 'Tonight Show' set for a sit-down with Jimmy Fallon on Monday ... and naturally, the host had to ask about his pearly whites -- or lack thereof.

Fallon called it "the most hockey thing" to get rocked in the mouth, lose some teeth and go on to make the gold-winning goal ... but Jack admitted making time to sit in a dentist chair is what's keeping him from correcting his look.

The U.S. women's teams may not have been able to make the trip to visit the White House just yet, but they are in store for one helluva celebration this summer ... 'cause Flavor Flav is telling TMZ Sports all about his plans for their epic Vegas takeover -- which even includes a parade!

Michael J. Babcock spoke with the hip hop legend about what he's cooking up later this year, not only for the women's hockey team -- but for any female athlete who represented the Red, White and Blue, too.

Flav says it's slated to go down July 16-19 ... and that he's teamed up with MGM Resorts to make it possible.

"The men have been getting all the glory," he said. "These women have been busting their ass out here and not really being recognized, so that's why I stepped up to the plate."

N.J. Devils star Jack Hughes was back on home ice Wednesday night after lifting the U.S. men's hockey team to Olympic gold ... and the 24-year-old star received a rousing ovation from the hometown faithful!!!

Hughes also briefly addressed the team's controversial phone call with the President of the United States.

Jack received a standing ovation when he took center ice at the Prudential Center in Newark, where he spoke to Devils fans about the experience. He also brought out his Team USA teammate turned opponent for the night, Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson.

"I'm so proud and so happy that the men's and women's USA hockey teams brought gold medals back to the United States of America," Hughes said. "I'm so proud to represent the New Jersey Devils organization, and I'm so, so proud to represent the great state of New Jersey."

One of the biggest assists for the U.S. men's hockey team didn't come on the Olympic ice -- it came courtesy of Pat McAfee, who let the gold medal winners rage in Miami on his dime!!

A video started making rounds on social media Tuesday night ... showing McAfee addressing the team and thanking them for representing the country as they celebrated at E11EVEN nightclub.

McAfee's message then revealed that he teamed up with the club to make sure they didn't have to spend a dollar to have a good time. We're told that by the time they walked out the door, the final total was around $150K.

HBO’s steamy hit "Heated Rivalry" has fans going feral -- and now they can take their obsession offline ... 'cause they can officially rent out the actual Canadian cottage from the show!

Yes, seriously. The iconic lakeside Barlochan Cottage tucked away in Muskoka, north of Toronto, is hitting Airbnb -- and bookings open March 3 at 12 PM ET.

The price? $248.10 in Canadian dollars per night (about $181 USD) -- a cheeky nod to "24" and "81," the jersey numbers of Hudson Williams’ Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie’s Ilya Rozanov, the duo at the heart of the show’s fiery, queer hockey saga.

As any fan knows, the 3-bedroom forest-core fantasy in the pics wasn’t just set dressing -- it was the setting. From Connor’s now-legendary "I’m coming to the cottage" line to Shane and Ilya’s off-ice moments, all the way to that finale ... it’s basically a fandom pilgrimage site with throw pillows.