Zach Werenski's Olympic gold: A hero's welcome home

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Zach Werenski's Olympic gold: A hero's welcome home

Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch · The Columbus Dispatch

Sat, Feb 28, 2026 ·

5 min read

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Zach Werenski didn't get home from Boston until 3 a.m. following the Blue Jackets' 4-2 loss Feb. 26 , so he didn't realize the extent of redecoration his yard had undergone.

More: Zach Werenski gives Columbus Blue Jackets ice time conundrum

He saw a few yard signs congratulating him on winning a gold medal at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, ending the country's 46-year Olympic drought in men's hockey, and it put a smile on the star defenseman's face. Waking up the next morning, Werenski saw more than a couple of signs.

His entire yard was decked out by handmade signs, red, white and blue banners, and more.

"It makes you emotional in the sense of how many people support you and care," Werenski said Feb. 28 at the Blue Jackets ' morning skate. "It's a lot of people I don't really know personally, but for them to take the time to come out and decorate and write all that stuff, that means a lot for sure."

Werenski will play his first home game Feb. 28 at Nationwide Arena when the Blue Jackets host the New York Islanders , and fans will get a chance to welcome him back. It's sure to be a raucous moment that he won't soon forget, just like celebrating the win with his USA Hockey teammates before rejoining the Blue Jackets and returning home to a patriotic yard.

"This is home for me now," Werenski said. "I've been here for 10 years. This is the place I've grown up, the people I've made friends with, and obviously the national stuff's great, but to come back here and be around the people that helped me get there, the people who've supported me for the past 10 years, I think that means the most. So, coming home to that was pretty special."

Columbus Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski recalls golden goal

Werenski played an integral role in setting up New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes for the shot in 3-on-3 overtime that gave the U.S. its first men's gold medal since 1980. Werenski's part in it has gone largely overlooked by analysts and national media, but Hughes wouldn't have gotten the puck without Werenski's instincts.

After Hughes got a stick on his backhand pass inside the U.S. zone, tapping the puck to the neutral zone just before Canada's Cale Makar could steal it, Werenski headed up ice to chase it.

"It's a unique play, for sure," Werenski said. "I was pretty committed to joining the rush there when I tried getting it to Jack. It kind of rolled on me originally, and then he makes a great play getting it by (Makar)."

Spotting Canadian center Nathan MacKinnon racing over to it, Werenski had a split-second decision to make. Keep going or pull back?

Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Zach Werenski (left) and Jack Hughes of the United States celebrate after winning the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

"At first, I didn't think I was going to get to it, but at that point it was kind of all-or-nothing, so I just tried to put some pressure on MacKinnon and make him uncomfortable, and I did just that," Werenski said. "It kind of threw him off a little bit. He kind of hesitated, and the puck came right back to me."

Dylan Larkin , Werenski's longtime friend and former University of Michigan teammate, cruised into Canada's zone right after Werenski bumped MacKinnon out of the way. He could have scooped the puck from Werenski but opted to let it play out.

"Larks makes a great read not grabbing it, because he easily could've grabbed that and turned the other way, which would've been fine, as well," Werenski said. "We would've had possession, but I saw Jack over there, so I definitely wanted it. So, I made a play to him and the rest is history. It's one of those things where it's not a special play, by any means, but it's a historic play and I'm just happy to be a part of it."

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See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

The U.S. men's Olympic ice hockey team with Matthew Tkachuk and Connor Hellebuyck in front applaud during President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran.

(Kenny Holston, Pool via Getty Images)

The U.S. men's Olympic ice hockey team with Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes at the front arrive for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Behind him are Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran.
(Kenny Holston, Pool via Getty Images)

Members of the Team USA Men's Hockey Team wave to the audience as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran.
(Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images)

The U.S. men's Olympic ice hockey team with Connor Hellebuyck in front attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran.
(Kenny Holston, Pool via Getty Images)

The U.S. men's Olympic ice hockey team with Matthew Tkachuk and Connor Hellebuyck in front attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Behind him are Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran.
(Kenny Holston, Pool via Getty Images)

Connor Hellebuyck, member of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, holds up his gold medal.
(Evelyn Hockstein, REUTERS)

Members of the Team USA men's hockey team wave to the audience as Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address.
(Andrew Harnik, Getty Images)

Members of the U.S. men's hockey team wave to the audience as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address.
(Andrew Harnik, Getty Images)

Members of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team applaud as their teammate Connor Hellebuyck puts his hand to his heart.
(Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS)

Members of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team that won the gold medal, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes, pose with their medals.
(Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS)

Members of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team that won the gold medal cheer during the State of the Union address.
(Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS)

Members of the Team USA men's hockey team walk through the media room before Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address.
(Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images)

Charlie McAvoy arrives for Donald Trump's State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
(Kylie Cooper, REUTERS)

Members of the U.S. Olympic gold medal men's hockey team wait backstage ahead of the State of the Union address.
(Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images)

Members of the U.S. Olympic gold medal men's hockey team go through security ahead of an appearance at the State of the Union address.
(Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets ' Zach Werenski reflects on gold medal importance

Werenski saw the puck go into the net before Hughes, whose vision was blocked by goalie Jordan Binnington . Initially unsure on how to react, he threw his stick down, threw off his gloves and joined a mass of U.S. players who had rushed onto the ice.

"If you watch the reaction, I realize very quickly Jack's not coming for me when he turns, so I kind of beat him to where he's going," Werenski said. "But it was one of those things where you can't really draw it up any better. It was an incredible moment."

It was also historic, which wasn't lost on Werenski or his teammates.

"It's a type of emotion I've never felt before," he said. "I've grown up watching the movie 'Miracle,' playing on U.S. teams, hearing about how long it's been since the U.S. had won a gold medal. I've heard from former USA players that played for however many years and never accomplished it, so we understood the magnitude, in terms of winning for USA Hockey, but once I saw it go in, you really understand the magnitude for what it means to the country."

Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau celebrate after the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Elsa, Getty Images)

US team members stand with the jersey number 13 of late US ice hockey player Johnny Gaudreau the medal ceremony after winning the men's gold medal ice hockey match between Canada and USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on February 22, 2026. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew died in August 2024 after they were struck by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey. (Photo by Antonin THUILLIER / AFP via Getty Images)
(ANTONIN THUILLIER, AFP via Getty Images)

Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; United States players celebrate with a team photo while holding the jersey of Johnny Gaudreau after defeating Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
(Geoff Burke, Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Meredith Gaudreau walks in the stands after the United States won the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
(James Lang, James Lang-Imagn Images)

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: (L-R) Jeremy Swayman #1, Jackson LaCombe #2, Brady Tkachuk #7 and Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States hold the shirt of late Johnny Gaudreau while participating in the national anthem during the medal ceremony following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)

Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; The United States celebrates after winning the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
(James Lang, James Lang-Imagn Images)

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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau celebrate after the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

(Elsa, Getty Images)

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski on Olympic gold, being welcomed home

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