An unexpected incident hits Team USA's plane right after their gold-medal win at the Olympics
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Sam Walker
Feb 23, 2026 (1:15 PM)
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Photo credit: screenshot
Matthew Tkachuk and Team USA had their Olympic gold high jolted by a winter storm, as their flight got diverted to Miami instead of New York.
The United States men's hockey team was headed back to North America after winning gold in Milan.
Then Mother Nature stepped in and rewrote the itinerary.
The plan was a landing in the New York area, quick connections, and a straight shot home.
A major winter storm forced officials to send the plane south, with an unexpected touchdown in Miami, Florida.
That kind of detour hits different when you are fresh off the biggest win of your career.
Reporter Chris Johnston shared the news and couldn't resist a little wink about the symbolism.
Instead of grey slush and delayed baggage, the players were suddenly looking at palm trees.
It is not hard to imagine how fast the group chat lit up.
Matthew Tkachuk and United States men's hockey team ride the moment
You can almost hear fans rolling their eyes, because of course the post-gold chaos somehow turns into a Miami stopover, with an open bar just moments before the NHL resumes play.
Tkachuk, never shy about a celebration, even tied the detour to a «why not» kind of vibe.
The quick layover still creates real logistics, though.
Every hour lost matters when NHL clubs are expecting their guys back, and coaches are already building lines for the restart.
For some players, it is a simple reconnect and go.
For others, it is a domino effect of missed flights, delayed recovery, and a body that still feels the tournament grind.
The funny part is Miami looks like a reward, but the schedule does not care about good vibes.
Teams will want legs under their top-six right away, and nobody wants to look flat in the first game back.
If there is a silver lining, it is this: a warm-weather pause can help guys decompress before jumping back into the regular-season pressure.
Now the question is whether the celebration stays controlled, or spills into the next shift.
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