Podcast Summary: Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron

Episode: Hour 2: Turning The Page on Hockey History
Date: February 22, 2026
Hosts: Myron Medcalf, Matt Jones (with David Dennis Jr. filling in for Matt Jones)
Network: ESPN Radio

Overview

This episode centers on Team USA's dramatic overtime victory against Canada in the men’s hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics—marking the first American gold in men's hockey since the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980. Hosts Matt and Myron, joined by David Dennis Jr., unpack the historical significance, emotional impact, and future implications of this win for both U.S. hockey and international sports. They engage with callers who share their reactions and debate whether this moment matches the legendary status of 1980, with thoughtful commentary provided by ESPN NHL analyst P.K. Subban.

Key Discussion Points

1. Summary and Context of the Gold Medal Win

• Team USA, considered underdogs, defeats Canada 2-1 in overtime. Jack Hughes scores the game-winner off an assist from Zach Werenski at 1:41 of OT, despite losing a couple of teeth earlier in the game.
• Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is highlighted as an unsung hero, stopping 41 of 42 Canadian shots.
• The win comes exactly 46 years after the "Miracle on Ice," where U.S. amateurs upset the Soviet Union before winning gold in 1980.
• Emotional tribute: The team honors the late Johnny Goudreau, who was expected to be on the team before his tragic passing in 2024, by holding up his jersey post-game.

Notable Quote

"Jack Hughes is going to be able to live off of this forever. Like it's not going to matter what he does the rest of his professional career. This will be the biggest thing by far." — Matt (00:17)

2. Comparing 2026 to 1980: Is This a New "Miracle on Ice"?

• Hosts and callers debate if "Miracle on Ice 2" is an appropriate name, given both teams are now comprised of professionals (unlike 1980’s amateur U.S. team).
• Older callers recount their memories of the 1980 game and acknowledge the differences in context, though many express similar pride.
• The conversation mixes humor and nostalgia with realistic acknowledgment of different eras.

Notable Quotes

"History on the line. 46 years ago to the day was the miracle on ice when the United States beat Russia... That was the last time that the United States won the gold medal in men's hockey until today." — Matt (02:44)

"This is not that 1980, there was a bunch of snot nosed kids who beat the best... This is a little bit different." — Caller "Mark" (13:49)

3. The Emotional Power of Sport: Tribute to Johnny Goudreau

• A poignant moment arrives as Team USA honors Johnny Goudreau, whose tragic death two years prior deeply affected the hockey community.
• P.K. Subban: "For them to have an opportunity to prioritize that above themselves in the biggest moment of their lives and put him first...says everything about what the game is about, what we're playing for." (25:25)
• Multiple hosts admit being visibly moved by the tribute.

Notable Quotes

"Sports is... It feels like one of the last things where we can do that in a moment like this." — Matt (04:50)

"When they pulled out the jersey, the Goodreau jersey... It got your brother a little choked up. I was getting a little dusty in here." — Myron (04:41)

4. Hockey Legacy: What Does the Win Mean for the U.S. and the Sport?

• P.K. Subban provides expert perspective: the win signals a major turning point for U.S. hockey, erasing the old narrative of American inferiority to Canadian hockey.
• Subban: "A turning of the page in hockey history... As a Canadian, you look at their [U.S.’s] program, you look at their team like, this is for real. It's for real now..." (27:43)
• Discussion of Canada’s loss of Sidney Crosby and what it means for future international play.
• The hosts joke about Canada’s reaction and the "movie script" that’s sure to follow.

Notable Quotes

"Team USA was the absolute underdog... And we can talk about Hellebuyck. What he did is, you can say, a miracle on ice... He stopped 41 of 42 shots." — Myron (03:37)

"The USA has, and it's for real. It's legit. As a Canadian, you look at their program, you look at their team like: this is for real." — P.K. Subban (27:43)

5. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck: The True MVP?

• Hosts and Subban emphasize Hellebuyck’s "wall-like" performance, calling him arguably the game’s real MVP.
• Critique of the tournament awarding MVP to Connor McDavid (Canada), not Hellebuyck.
• Humorous takes on receiving “Beanie Babies” as consolation at the medal ceremony.

Notable Quotes

"What he did today, my goodness, it was unbelievable... I think that maybe I need to start drinking the Connor Hellebuck tea a little bit more." — P.K. Subban (32:23)

"Also there's a goalie for the United States who I believe stopped 41 of 42 shots. And that's not your MVP. Make it make sense, David." — Matt (38:08)

6. The Broader Cultural Moment: National Pride and Hollywood Storytelling

• Callers link America’s hockey win to a sense of perseverance and pride amid broader international and domestic challenges.
• Hosts imagine a future Hollywood film about the win, casting actors like Timothée Chalamet and Jeremy Allen White, with playful riffs on the formula of U.S. sports movies.
• Lively banter includes playful confusion over actor names and comparisons to past sports drama films.

Memorable Exchanges

"Who's the dude who's in all the movies? The. The young dude. He dates one of the Jenner people." — Matt (07:53)
"It's going to be my guy from The Bear." — Myron (08:21)

"Whoever plays the scarecrow [in Batman]... Killian Murphy... It's going to be Timothy Tomate and Killian Murphy — that's going to be the US versus Canada moment, and I can't wait to see it." — Matt (17:44)

"There are gonna be some people who are offended if we try to call this the Miracle on Ice 2, because the stakes are very, very different." — Matt (09:09)

Highlighted Audience Reactions

• Several callers recall their own "where were you" stories from 1980, drawing emotional parallels between that day and 2026. [13:49, 15:09, 18:14]
• Callers and hosts agree that while the circumstances are different, the pride and emotions are similar—and a new generation can own a comparable legacy.

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:17–05:00 | Recap of USA’s win, Jack Hughes’s story, Hellebuyck’s performance, Miracle on Ice context
• 05:37–09:32 | Emotional tribute to Johnny Goudreau, discussion of sports legacies, speculation about a Hollywood movie
• 13:49–19:18 | Callers’ perspectives: comparing 1980 and 2026, “Miracle on Ice 2?” debate, patriotism and pride
• 25:25–29:53 | P.K. Subban interview: meaning of the win, culture of hockey, and the U.S. program’s rise
• 32:08–34:14 | Hellebuyck’s performance, discussion of MVP selection, Canadian hockey narrative
• 38:08–39:46 | Controversy over Connor McDavid’s MVP, medal ceremonies, host banter
• 43:44–45:14 | Callers on the meaning of the win for U.S. hockey, cultural parallels to international basketball

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Hollywood Banter

  • "Timothee Chalamet is already reading a script to be Jack Hughes... He wants to write the script and do the movie." — Matt (07:53)
  • "Are we gonna call it Miracle Part Two? ... Cause Too Miracle, Too Furious?" — Myron (09:04)

• On Passing the Torch

  • "I don't care who you are... that was an emotional moment for that team. To say, the first thing we want to do is... make everybody remember that this was a young man who was supposed to be joining us on this victory lap." — Matt (20:11)

• On National Underdog Status

  • "United States as a concept, rarely gets to be an underdog at any sort of situation. And in this one, Team USA was the absolute underdog." — Myron (03:37)

• Symbolic Victory

  • "It just shows the rest of the world that... we may be getting kicked around a little bit, but we're not giving up." — Caller "Chris" (18:17)

Conclusion

This episode captures the poignancy and pageantry of a historic U.S. sports win, mixing nostalgia and humor with honest sports analysis and emotional moments of communal pride. The discussion, aided by expert P.K. Subban, underscores the lasting impact of Olympic moments—both the legendary and the newly written—and offers listeners an engaging, thoroughly American take on turning the page in the history of hockey.

For anyone who missed the episode, this summary covers all the key moments, debates, expert commentary, and emotional reactions that made this a notable hour in sports radio.