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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Team USA capped one of the most dramatic nights in Olympic hockey history by beating Canada 2-1 in overtime to win men’s hockey gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the first U.S. title in 46 years.
Jack Hughes’ sudden-death winner, backed by a 41-save performance from Connor Hellebuyck, flipped the storied rivalry and sparked a nationwide celebration, with TV audiences peaking near 26 million viewers at the decisive moment.
That celebration didn’t stop at the rink. The team’s Miami nightclub party quickly became part of the story, especially after it emerged that sports media personality Pat McAfee quietly covered the entire tab at E11EVEN.
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A clip circulated Tuesday night showing McAfee thanking the players for representing the country and announcing he had partnered with the club so “you don’t have to spend a dollar.”
The final bill reportedly landed around $150,000.
More news: Tom Brady Had 1-Word for Quinn, Jack Hughes After Team USA’s Olympic Win
McAfee's gesture quickly drew reactions online.
"Wow! This is so cool! Pat McAfee is awesome!🇺🇸👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼," said one user.
"@PatMcAfeeShow you are amazing! Thanks for honoring these great Americans!!! 🇺🇸," another fan replied.
"Like him or not, Pat does amazing things helping others," one other user commented.
"Pat is a true Patriot. He loves America. 🇺🇲," another responded.
"Buying hockey players drinks is an expensive errand lol Good on Mr McAfee," said one other fan.
"Pat is one of the good ones, for sure! 🫡," another replied.
More news: NBC Delivers Major Ratings Announcement Following Winter Olympics
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McAfee rose from a seven-year NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts into one of sports media’s most magnetic personalities, turning sharp delivery and viral instincts into "The Pat McAfee Show" and a full-time analyst role at ESPN.
In 2022, he joined the College GameDay crew and soon after signed a reported five-year, $85 million deal to bring his show to the network.
Off-camera, McAfee has cultivated a reputation for headline-grabbing generosity.
His weekly GameDay field-goal challenge, where a student attempts a 30-yard kick for a massive cash prize, has become must-watch television, with McAfee reportedly giving away more than $6 million over the past three years alone.
That blend of spectacle and philanthropy has become central to his brand: equal parts entertainer and benefactor, someone who routinely turns airtime into life-changing money.
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