MILAN — Jack Hughes thought he would get to play with his brother, Quinn, on Team USA at last year’s 4 Nations.
Then, the hockey world thought he would get to play with Quinn on the New Jersey Devils as the latter’s trade saga heated up this season in Vancouver.
But Quinn ended up missing 4 Nations with injury, and being traded to the Minnesota Wild instead, meaning that Thursday night was the first time the duo got to share the ice for the same team.
The Olympics, of course, are not such a bad place to start.
“It’s funny, we go to the same spots a little bit,” Jack said after Team USA’s 5-1 win over Latvia. “We want the puck in the same spots. Even though I’m a forward, he’s a [defenseman].
“I wanted to play with him all night. It’s so fun to be doing give-and-gos with him, playing off each other. So yeah, hopefully we can do that a lot.”
Both brothers had excellent nights. Though Quinn had a goal wiped off the board for offside in the first period, he led Team USA with 21:29 of ice time and had a pair of assists. Jack finished with two assists as well, both to Brock Nelson on a fourth-line duo that had immediate chemistry.
“I think he gets it,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “Jack is one of our very best. He’s dynamic offensively. He can really drive offense and certainly he did tonight for us.”
Luke Hughes is the only member of the immediate family not here in Milan.
Their mother, Ellen, is involved with USA Hockey as well, working on the women’s side as a player development consultant.
Jim Hughes, their father, works as director of player development for CAA — the agency that, naturally, represents all three siblings.
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“It’s unreal,” Jack said of having his mom working for Team USA. “Just growing up, my dad was on the road coaching. My mom was the one who was taking us to games and taking us to the outdoor rink, coaching us and stuff. The best part for me is being here with Quinn. We’re lucky we get to share the Olympics with our mom, too.
“Who gets to say that? It’s pretty special.”
Unlike some other teams in the tournament — most notably Sweden — the Americans used their seventh defenseman, Noah Hanifin, and 13th forward, Vincent Trocheck, a good amount.
Hanifin finished with 11:01 of ice, Trocheck with 9:11.
“I think we feel as though we have very capable guys deep into our lineup,” Sullivan said. “Maybe other teams don’t feel that way but we feel strongly that we do. Because of that, we feel very confident that we can use them all.”