Jack Hughes, historic U.S. victory spark surge in hockey, Olympic cards as collectors celebrate gold medals

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina will go down in history not just for the thrill of competition, but for how it electrified the sports card hobby, especially when it comes to hockey.   

With Team USA’s men and women standing atop the podium for both winning gold, collectors have zeroed in on the trading cards of the players who delivered iconic moments on the world’s biggest stage. It also marked the first time in Olympic hockey history that the men and women both captured gold at the same Winter Olympics.   

On the men’s side, the U.S. won its first Olympic gold medal since the legendary 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team in Lake Placid. The gold medal game, capped by an unforgettable overtime winner from Jack Hughes in a 2-1 win against rival Canada, was widely celebrated across the United States.

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As a result, it inspired a series of unique Topps NOW cards of Hughes that have skyrocketed in demand. After scoring the epic OT winner, collectors flocked to Hughes cards going as far back as 2019. Card Ladder, an analytics and data platform, reported that $177 had been spent on Hughes cards on Feb. 21. A day later, after Hughes scored the Golden Goal, there had been $35,000 worth in sales—growth of 19,849%.

The men’s hockey tournament featured NHL stars for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games. That made the U.S.-Canada game even more impactful—and a rematch of last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off—as the NHL’s best-on-best featured highly collectible players, including U.S. stars Auston Matthews and Canada’s Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. The Olympics were also a boon for collectors interested in younger players like Canada’s Macklin Celebrini, who plays for the San Jose Sharks, and Slovakia’s Juraj Slafkovsky, a member of the Montreal Canadiens.    

On the women’s side, the U.S. added another golden chapter to their history with a dramatic overtime victory of their own, also by a score of 2-1 against Canada, that again put a spotlight on veterans like team captain Hilary Knight. Megan Keller, who scored the winning goal in that game, also saw a surge in popularity. Topps Now also issued cards featuring Keller to commemorate the U.S. victory.

Prior to the Milan-Cortina Games, collectors got into the mood with the release of 2026 Topps Chrome U.S. Winter Olympics & Paralympic Team Hopefuls set. Featuring 200 base cards with a wide range of parallels, refractors, themed inserts and autographs, the set has also become popular. The checklist, loaded with Olympians across disciplines, also featured hockey stars such as Hughes. 

Whether you’re chasing rookie cards, parallels or numbered inserts, this year’s Olympic surge proves that gold medals don’t just elevate legacies, but have an impact on the card market. With renewed attention on U.S. hockey, the ripple effects from Milan-Cortina are poised to influence values and grading submissions for months, and even years, to come.

Here are 10 cards that have gotten an Olympic-bump:

Hughes, drafted No. 1 overall in the 2019 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils, had his rookie card included in the 2019-20 UD flagship set. Following his heroics against Canada, the card has become very popular and one of the most in demand of an American-born NHL star since Matthews.  

Hughes’ “Future Watch” autograph card is the rookie card for deep-pocketed collectors. Values of these cards have always been high, only to increase further as a result of the Olympics. This card, which is #/399, features Hughes in a Devils uniform with his on-card signature underneath. 

The print-on-demand card, part of a series sold on the Topps website for a limited time during the Olympics, features Hughes celebrating seconds after his goal. The card also comes in a 1/1 autographed version with Hughes’ signature and the phrase, “Golden Goal! 2/22/26 Go USA!”

The Minnesota Wild star (and Jack’s brother) also had a great Olympics. The defenseman’s rookie card can be found in the 2019-20 UD flagship set donning a Vancouver Canucks jersey, the team that drafted him seventh overall in 2018. 

The U.S. goaltender, who made 41 saves in the gold medal game, had his first pro card in the 2015-16 UD flagship set. Hellebuyck, who was drafted 130th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2012, is pictured standing between the pipes. While goalie cards aren’t as desirable to collect as forwards, Hellebuyck’s desirability is only likely to grow after winning gold.

Keller’s rookie card appeared in the inaugural 2024 UD Professional Women’s Hockey League set, which was released last year to much fanfare. The complete set remains very collectable—a sign that women’s hockey is on an upward trajectory—and Young Guns cards of players like Keller will only grow in value.  

Like Hughes, Keller got the Topps NOW treatment after scoring the OT winner. Keller is pictured on the card waving an American flag over her head. Keller’s flag—featuring 250— honors the country’s semi-quincentennial anniversary that will be celebrated this July 4. The print-on-demand card sold out within days.

The dual Topps Now card is a wonderful keepsake highlighting the two biggest names from the 2026 Winter Games. While cards featuring both men’s and women’s players are rare, it will have plenty of crossover appeal across a large swath of collectors for years to come. 

The veteran has a Young Guns card in the 2024 PWHL set. Knight, one of the most iconic women’s hockey players in U.S. history, has had other cards, but this is one many collectors like because of the status Young Guns cards carry in the hobby. Knight is a five-time Olympic medalist (two golds and three silver) since 2010.

Knight’s rookie card appeared in Sports Illustrated for Kids in 2012. It features Knight skating in a Wisconsin Badgers uniform. The back of the card points out that Knight is a member of the U.S. team, where she helped the Americans win a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Games.