After the U.S. men’s hockey team produced an iconic overtime win against Canada to cap the Milan Cortina Olympics, NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico delivered a gold medal-worthy moment of his own.
Tirico drew praise from viewers and broadcasting peers for his inspirational words after Team USA brought home its first men’s hockey gold medal since the “Miracle on Ice” team of 1980.
“So for all the young people out there, not just the hockey, but all the Olympics you’ve watched, those dreams are formed now,” he said on the NBC broadcast. “Go chase them and go get them. Because our country loves sports, and it brings us together unlike anything else.”
“And if you didn’t know that, if you haven’t been watching the last two weeks, you saw it in Team USA hockey winning the gold over their archrival Canada here in Milan to wrap up these 25th Olympic Winter Games,” he concluded.
Tirico spoke on TODAY Feb. 25 about what inspired him to deliver those words, which were not planned in advance.
“It came about a minute before I said it,” Tirico said. “I just got there. Emotionally I was involved. I love U.S. hockey, I’m a kid of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. I remember watching that when I was young.”
Team USA men’s hockey won its first gold medal in 46 years with a win over Canada in the gold medal match.
A touching postgame moment also made Tirico contemplate the dreams of the next generation and of one who tragically could not be there in Milan.
The two young children of late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau were brought out by the victorious U.S. team to join in the photos and celebration. Players from the U.S. team also skated around the arena holding Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey.
Gaudreau, 31, who likely would have been part of Team USA, was killed alongside his brother, Matthew, 29, by an alleged drunk driver who struck them while they were riding bikes near their New Jersey hometown on Aug. 29, 2024.
“When they went into the crowd to get those kids and be a part of that picture, it just hit me of the dreams, and his dreams, not realized, and maybe his kids will realize their dreams some day,” Tirico said of Gaudreau.
“Fortunately, after a great American sports moment, I had a mic, and I was able to say what was on my mind,” he added.
Tirico’s comments immediately had Olympic fans fired up for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles and beyond.
“I’m so honored that it touched some folks, and I hope it does inspire a generation of kids to go out there and do what you can, because we’re living our dreams,” Tirico said of himself, Carson Daly, Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin. “Many of us always wanted to do what we’re doing now, and maybe they’ll be inspired to do the same.”
His poignant moment also drew praise from fellow sports journalists.
“Mike Tirico is amazing,” Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports tweeted. “He goes from calling NBA games to the Super Bowl to the Olympics. And he does it all flawlessly. What a talent.”
“. @miketirico and @NBCSports were as good as it gets in that last hour,” NFL RedZone and NBC Olympic Gold Zone host Scott Hanson tweeted. “All-Time Great sports broadcasting there.”
Reacting to their comments on TODAY, Tirico called it “humbling,” “overwhelming” and, with a smile, “embarrassing.”
“I just show up and wear makeup and talk on TV, that’s all I do, and for people to be kind and share those thoughts means the world to me,” Tirico said.
The memorable moment also concluded a whirlwind stretch for Tirico during what NBC called “Legendary February.”
He broadcasted a “Sunday Night Basketball” game for NBC in New York on Feb. 1, then was on the call for the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8, and a day later he was in Italy to anchor NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics.
Carson Daly asked Tirico on TODAY where he will be spending all those frequent-flier miles he racked up.
“I have no desire to use them,” Tirico joked. “I’d like to be home for a little bit. My car is going to look at me in the morning and go, ‘Who are you?'”
