The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Local Hour: Hockey Is Back, Jack (Feb 23, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode, recorded at the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, revolves around the electrifying return of Olympic hockey to American prominence after Team USA's dramatic gold medal win against Canada. Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Mike Ryan, and guest hosts offer their signature blend of humor, insight, and sports nostalgia, dissecting the game’s impact, U.S. and Canadian hockey legacies, and the resonance of “walk-off” moments in sports history. The conversation ranges from technical hockey points to the culture of sports fandom and iconic sports calls, all seasoned with playful bickering and Miami flavor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Olympic Hockey Gold: A Defining Sports Moment (09:11, 10:17, 11:24)

• Team USA’s significance: The group highlights the surprise and euphoria around the gold medal, noting this is only the third U.S. win—joining the legendary Lake Placid (1980) and Squaw Valley (1960) teams.

• Underdog narrative: The U.S. rarely plays this role in international sports; triumphing over Canada, the traditional hockey powerhouse, gave the win extra resonance.

• The moment’s magnitude: Dan calls it “one of the best international sports moments in American history” (09:11).

  "It’s the first Olympic gold medal on the men’s side in my lifetime. We finally conquered the Canadians. It was a walk off game winning goal from Jack Hughes. An incredible moment."
  — Dan Le Batard [09:11]

• Cultural crossover: Even marginal hockey fans were swept up, evidenced by packed watch parties at dawn in places like Scottsdale, Arizona (03:07–03:30).

2. Why Americans Underestimate International Competition (04:17–04:35)

• National sports ego: Mike marvels at how rare U.S. hockey gold is, compared to basketball and baseball, and how American fans assume dominance due to strong pro leagues.

• International reality check: MLB and NHL are world-class, but success at international tournaments is far from guaranteed.

  "This is only the third time [USA] winning this. This is a massive deal… Of course, this is like Canada beating us in basketball."
  — Mike Ryan [04:35]

3. Time Zones, Watch Culture, and Sports Ritual (06:47–08:49)

• East vs. West Coast watch habits: The crew riffs on the joys of earlier start times for sports on the West Coast, contrasting Miami sleep-ins with Arizona’s sunrise bar scene.
• Lifestyle humor: Stugotz narrates the Florida-to-strip-club-to-bar pipeline for early games, underscoring the fandom’s versatility (07:11–07:24).

4. The Players: Jack Hughes, Hellebuyck, and Hockey Legends (11:24–12:15, 13:28–14:13)

• Crowning Jack Hughes: Will Hughes become an American sports legend like Mike Eruzione? The panel debates the staying power of his game-winning moment (21:37–25:46).

• Unsung heroes: Mike Ryan spotlights Hellebuyck’s goaltending as pivotal, marveling at his lack of mainstream recognition despite Vesna Trophy nominations (11:48–12:02).

• Connor McDavid/McJesus narrative: Stugotz and Mike muse on McDavid’s reputation as a great talent who struggles in big moments, poking fun at the social media backlash and international MVP voting protocols (13:00–13:28).

  "He was so busy trying to cast a spell on Hellebuyck, he cast a spell on himself and forgot to shoot the puck."
  — Stugotz [13:20]

5. The Impact of the Three-on-Three Overtime and Rule Changes (22:20–23:39)

• Controversy: Canada’s loss in three-on-three OT triggers debate on the game’s fairness and the shift from traditional Olympic formats.

• Roster strengths: Despite Canada putting its three best players—McDavid, McKinnon, Makar—on the ice, they couldn’t stop Hughes’s game-winner, adding irony for the “better team” narrative.

  "Those are the three that were out there when Jack Hughes scored that goal."
  — Stugotz [23:24]

6. The Nature of Sports Memory: Calls and Legendary Moments (25:46–31:15)

• Iconic calls: The guys analyze famous calls from broadcasters like Joe Buck, Al Michaels, Keith Jackson, and Vin Scully, debating what makes a moment immortal—both for Jack Hughes now and Eruzione in ‘80.

• American sports canon: The “Do you believe in miracles?” call is contrasted with the understated Hughes goal call, sparking discussion on sports mythology and narrative (26:18, 29:07, 31:15).

  "The indicator, Keith, is all his teammates mobbing him in the end zone."
  — Stugotz [29:10]

7. Does the U.S. Win Feel Tarnished by Crosby’s Absence? (38:30–43:35)

• Debate: Does Canada missing Sidney Crosby in the gold medal game diminish the moment? The consensus: "nobody cares"—history remembers the win, not who was absent.

• Broader context: Sports rarely provide perfect measurement—there's always a “what if,” but the result stands.

  "Canadians, we three on three and we didn’t have Crosby. Nobody is ever going to care. No one’s ever going to recall that other than your fellow Canadians."
  — Stugotz [44:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Closeted hockey fans... Or maybe they would just like to experiment a little bit. You know what? You go through that phase and say, hey, you know what? Let me try this hockey thing.”
  — Mike Ryan [03:29]

• “To see moms who had no idea about the story, crying by the time that Goudreau's kids hit the ice — it was just an incredible moment.”
  — Dan Le Batard [10:53]

• “I love how you’re like, ‘I know all the names,’ and you struggle with the names.”
  — Stugotz, teasing Mike Ryan [11:44]

• “Matthew Tkachuk just continues this unreal run — back to back Stanley Cups, oh, down year? I'll win gold for the first time since 1980.”
  — Dan Le Batard [14:11]

• “Let the picture tell the story... That’s what they teach. Television broadcast. You’re not doing radio.”
  — Mike Ryan (defending TV play-by-play restraint) [29:24]

• “This is what the world does to me. I want to be a ray of sunshine... but the facts go against my ability to do that.”
  — Stugotz [24:52]

Important Timestamps

• [03:07–03:30] — The non-traditional U.S. hockey fandom and watch party culture
• [09:11] — Recapping the magnitude of USA’s win over Canada
• [10:53] — Emotional resonance of the win for non-hockey fans
• [13:20] — Stugotz on McDavid’s struggles in big moments
• [21:37–25:46] — Debate: Will Jack Hughes become a sports legend?
• [22:20–23:39] — Three-on-three overtime critique and what it means for “purists”
• [26:18, 29:07, 31:15] — The art of great play-by-play calls: past and present
• [38:30–43:35] — Is the result diminished by Crosby’s injury? (Consensus: not at all)

Conclusion

This edition of the Local Hour perfectly blends celebration, satire, and nostalgia. The hosts elevate the moment of Team USA’s gold by placing it in sports history, dissecting how we frame athletic greatness, and poking holes in sports fan “what ifs.” With humor and insight, they tease out why certain wins and moments become eternal in the American psyche, how rules and narratives shape what we remember, and why, even in a Miami hotel, hockey can feel like the pulse of the nation.

Recommended Segment:

• For a taste of the team’s sports-culture alchemy, jump to the great calls debate ([25:46–31:15]) — or hear Dan on the broader impact of Jack Hughes’s goal ([09:11–10:53]).