Gold medalists Brock Nelson (center) listens to the national anthem after defeating Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games yesterday. Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson will return to Denver as an Olympic champion, joining an elite family tradition spanning more than six decades.
Zoom in: The Minnesota native's gold medal in yesterday's 2-1 overtime win over Canada made him a third-generation Olympic champion.
Flashback: Nelson's uncle, Dave Christian, won gold in 1980, when the U.S. beat the Soviet Union in the "Miracle on Ice" game before also defeating Finland. Nelson's grandfather, Billy Christian, helped secure a gold medal for Team USA in 1960.
Between the lines: Nelson bested his Avs teammates playing for Canada, as Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Devon Toews took home silver.
Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect that the U.S. ice hockey team's gold medal in 1980 was won in the game with Finland (not in the "Miracle on Ice" game).
