RWJBarnabas Health • Get Checked Campaign
New Jersey Devil and Olympic hockey star Jack Hughes doubles down on his commitment to health and community.
Exactly 46 years to the day after the Miracle on Ice—when the U.S. men’s hockey team played its way into Olympic lore by defeating the powerhouse Soviet Union to win gold—Jack Hughes was on the ice in Milan, ready to make history again. Missing chunks of teeth from an earlier high stick, he found himself playing defense against Canada’s Connor McDavid, one of the world’s best players. Though not a defenseman, Hughes showed up to play, and this was sudden-death, 3-on-3 overtime for Olympic gold.
Not only was Hughes able to corral McDavid, but he was also able to convert his defensive skills into his better-known offensive maneuvers in an instant, speeding up the ice, chipping the puck past world star Cale Makar, and scoring the game winner in front of nearly 35 million transfixed North Americans. On February 22, 2026, the goal of a generation was scored.
The postgame celebration photo of Hughes with the U.S. flag draped over his shoulders captured his chipped-toothed elation and is already one of the most iconic hockey photos ever snapped.
The Power of Tenacity
Less than a year earlier, Hughes underwent surgery on his right shoulder after sustaining a second injury to the area. It ended his 2024–2025 season, sending him to an offseason of rehabilitation. His Instagram post from March 2025 laid it bare for all to see:
“Sports/Life can break you down, can be unfair. All the preparation, sacrifice, emotion, training, toughness you put into a year can be wasted within a matter of seconds. I know I’m not the first athlete to face the challenges that come with injuries, and I certainly will not be the last. But this is another hill to climb. The more adversity I face, the more I will believe in myself, the deeper I will dig into who I am, in the pursuit of being the best version of myself.”
— Jack Hughes, Instagram, March 2025
With Hughes as ambassador, RWJBH’s long-standing support of youth hockey carries new energy.
Hughes knows what recovery is all about. After multiple shoulder surgeries and a 2025 hand surgery from cutting himself on broken glass, he spent two consecutive offseasons in physical rehabilitation. With the Olympics on the horizon, he knew staying healthy was his priority, and by December 21, he was back on the ice.
Earlier that month, Hughes had inked a multiyear agreement positioning him as the first-ever brand ambassador for RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH), New Jersey’s largest academic health system. RWJBH is also a 30-year partner of the New Jersey Devils, Hughes’ current National Hockey League (NHL) team and the one that drafted him first overall in 2019.
An Authentic Partnership
Given his resilience in the face of injuries and his commitment to health and fitness, a partnership between Hughes and RWJBH makes perfect sense. Together, they’ve launched the “Get Checked” campaign, a statewide call to action urging New Jerseyans to prioritize preventive care, routine screenings and the kinds of proactive health habits that keep you performing your best, whether you’re playing professional sports, enjoying retirement, raising a family or focusing on your career.
“Get Checked” isn’t just another celebrity endorsement. It’s personal. It’s rooted in authenticity via lived experience and a genuine alignment of values and beliefs. Hughes has spoken openly about the family legacy of helping others that shapes him.
“Both of my grandfathers, a pediatric neurologist and a firefighter, are individuals who impacted people’s lives for the better—in completely different ways. Making a meaningful contribution to my community and impacting others are very important to me. This partnership bridges all that. Being part of that and making a difference is something I am really proud of.”
— Jack Hughes
Hughes’ father, Jim, coached in the NHL and was director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs for five seasons. His mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, is a former U.S. women’s national ice hockey player who is now a player development consultant for the team, which also won gold in 2026.
A Hockey Family
- Quinn Hughes – scored the overtime goal in the 2026 Olympic semifinal vs. Sweden; top-ranked NHL defenseman.
- Luke Hughes – rising-star defenseman, also with the Devils.
- Jim Hughes – former NHL coach; director of player development, Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Ellen Weinberg-Hughes – former U.S. women’s national team player; player development consultant.
Together, Jim and Ellen raised three first-round NHL draft picks who have all reached the pinnacle of their sport. With experience in player development, both parents understand how off-ice habits and intangibles are just as important as on-ice coaching and training. These are values the family has always held close. Their sons were raised in a home where resilience, hard work and giving back were daily expectations, not just aspirations.
For Jack, that obligation now extends to his partnership with RWJBarnabas Health. He proudly wears the RWJBH logo sewn on his Devils home jersey and knows what it means to the collective New Jersey community, many of whom are avid Devils fans.
Committed to New Jersey
“RWJBarnabas Health is proud of its long-standing partnership with the New Jersey Devils, and this new collaboration with Jack Hughes allows us to deepen our commitment to building and sustaining a healthier New Jersey. As a trusted leader on and off the ice, Jack embodies the values of teamwork, dedication and community, making him an ideal partner to help encourage New Jersey residents to make their health a priority. Together, we will raise awareness about the importance of regular checkups and preventive care, reinforcing our shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve across New Jersey.”
— Mark E. Manigan, President & CEO, RWJBarnabas Health
Nationally renowned for quality, safety and innovation, the RWJBH system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 locations. It’s a network that, in addition to cutting-edge treatments and Level I Trauma care, delivers preventive services ranging from pediatric well-visits and sports physicals to adult cancer screenings, cardiac evaluations, diabetes management and behavioral health support. Its partnership with Rutgers University powers cutting-edge research and education.
In addition, RWJBH is New Jersey’s safety-net leader, addressing social determinants of health while simultaneously offering world-class specialty care to patients across the state.
The health system’s community roots run deep. RWJBH has long supported youth hockey through Learn to Play programs and high school teams, hosted blood drives and community screenings, and welcomed patients to immersive game-day experiences. The annual Running with the Devils 5K promotes active lifestyles across the state.
With Hughes as ambassador, those efforts now carry a new energy and a face that New Jersey’s next generation already knows and trusts.
Hughes isn’t phoning in the partnership, either. He’s already surprised RWJBH employees at events, joined team-building activities and embraced his role as a champion for healthier habits.
Hughes has spent his entire career being told what he can’t do: “You’re not big enough. You can’t play defense. You won’t be able to withstand the toughness of the NHL. You’re not good in big moments.” But his incredible work with the Devils despite serious setbacks and his legendary golden goal in the Olympics tell a much different story.
Turning Words Into Practice
What we don’t see are all the training sessions, the surgeries and the mental anguish that come with quiet offseason rehabilitation. We don’t see the trust that has been built between him and his trainers and specialists, how much preparation goes into not getting injured again, and the discipline it takes to stay ahead of health by being proactive both on and off the ice.
There’s a real lesson here, and it applies to everyone in New Jersey—the kid getting his or her hockey physical, the busy parent who hasn’t thought of going back to the doctor since the onset of the pandemic, and the grandparent who keeps saying, “I feel fine” instead of being proactive: Getting ahead of something is most certainly better than trying to catch up with it.
Get Checked
Primary care isn’t just about getting treatment when you’re sick. It’s about preventing your illness before it starts, managing ongoing conditions, and staying on top of screenings that can catch problems early.
Learn more: rwjbh.org/getchecked
“Making a difference is something I’m really proud of,” says Hughes, the ambassador for RWJBarnabas Health’s statewide “Get Checked” campaign.
Staying ahead of potential health issues takes discipline but pays off handsomely. So get checked, New Jersey. Book your appointment today. Hughes and his new team are on your bench.
Learn more at: rwjbh.org/getchecked
