As Team USA celebrates its first men’s hockey victory in nearly 50 years, Jon Stewart took to The Daily Show to unpack the sport’s cultural impact in light of the 2026 Winter Olympics and its evolving connection to nationalism.
Reflecting on the “super weird year” hockey has had, Stewart highlighted the whirlwind of attention the sport has received, particularly after Team USA’s win over Team Canada, a victory that MAGA groups have since co-opted as a symbol of nationalism. “First of all, what a super weird year hockey is having,” Stewart quipped.
“In four months, to go from, nobody gives a sht about hockey, to, ‘well, I like to watch them fck,’ to, ‘only hockey can save us from an estro-genetic future.’”
On Team USA’s victory, Stewart joked, “It was so unifying! There is nothing that can take away from the joyous moment as all Americans celebrate—wait, what the f*ck?! Is that FBI Director Kash Patel? And why are they putting a medal around the neck of [Patel]? Is Kash Patel a Make-a-Wish man? Kid? Is that what this is? Listen, I’m not trying to diminish his condition. There is currently no cure for ‘Crazy Eyes.’”
All of MAGA celebrated Team USA's hockey win, even Kash "Crazy Eyes" Patel! pic.twitter.com/K5bqtnXQ7L
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) February 24, 2026
On Sunday, Team USA’s Jack Hughes led his team to a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory, marking the men’s hockey team’s first gold medal since 1980, when they defeated Finland. The victory has drawn fresh attention to the sport, thanks in part to the success of Heated Rivalry, a steamy adaptation of Rachel Reid’s Game Changer hockey novels, which has become a hit on Crave/HBO Max.
The series has resonated with LGBTQ and female audiences for its romantic and sexual depictions, and the NHL has seen a noticeable increase in ticket sales, partly driven by the show’s popularity.
Stewart pointed out how the cultural heat around the sport has also translated into a new social media presence, with TikTok users dubbing hockey rinks “boy aquariums.” Meanwhile, François Arnaud, the star of Heated Rivalry, has called on the NHL to do more to support the LGBTQ community, as the show was recently renewed for a second season.
It’s clear that hockey’s cultural landscape has been transformed, and Stewart’s commentary underscores just how “weird” and unexpected the sport’s new relevance has become.
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