Team USA announced that "Free Bird" by Lynard Skynard is going to be their goal song at the 2025 Four Nations Faceoff. This comes after the Gold Medal-winning World Juniors team rallied behind it back in January.
This song was the perfect choice for Team USA. It has that American feel to it and it has also been a good luck charm to USA Hockey over the last few months.
News of this was announced on social media, and New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes was in the middle of it. USA Hockey put out a video and it started with Hughes listening to the song on some headphones. It quickly went into some highlights of Team USA practicing with the song playing over it.
Headphones on - Free Bird is BACK 🦅 #4Nations pic.twitter.com/FLt5kKhtjd
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 13, 2025
To be honest, it was a solid hype video for those who need more motivation to feel good about this USA squad. The Devils' top star is in the middle of it all both on and off the ice. He's one of the faces of the team just like he is in New Jersey.
Jack Hughes would love to ensure that Free Bird plays early and often at Bell Centre and TD Garden during the tournament. The more that song is played, the better Team USA is doing.
Hughes will be on a line with Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning to start. With everyone's ability to both make plays and shoot, it should be a line that plays Free Bird quite a bit.
Auston Matthews and Jake Guentzel are both shoot-first types of players but can both dish it with the best of them as well. Jack is the opposite. He can shoot well but making plays is his biggest forte. It should be a wonderful balance.
Their first chance to play their new goal song will come on Thursday night when they take on Team Finland in Montreal. New Jersey Devils forward Erik Haula will be on the other time playing against his old line-mate Hughes. To say this will be must-see TV would be an understatement.