When it matters most: Jack Wallace’s hat-tricks define USA’s golden moment

USA forward and Milano Cortina 2026 MVP Declan Farmer had scored a hat-trick in each of the four games leading to the Paralympic final against Canada. If anyone looked destined for another treble in the gold-medal game, it was him. But finals have a rhythm of their own – the kind where a player can match his entire tournament goal tally in under 45 minutes. That is exactly what Jack Wallace did at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on a Sunday that will be remembered for years.

The defender accounted for half of the USA’s goals in their 6-2 win over their North American rivals. He also added an assits, finishing Milano Cortina 2026 with 14 points – second only to teammate Farmer – and was named Best Defender of the Games. More importantly to him, he left the rink with a third Paralympic gold.

"That stuff [scoring a hat-trick] doesn't matter. The team won. That's what matters,” Wallace said after the game. "It's not about your accolades. It's about the people that support us."

Hat-tricks in decisive games are nothing new to Wallace. A four-time world champion, he scored three goals in USA’s 6-1 victory over Canada in the World Para Ice Hockey Championships final last May in Buffalo. 

In both finals, Wallace shared the ice with the person he credits the most for his development: USA captain Josh Pauls. The only player to have won five Paralympic gold medals, Pauls is both a friend and a mentor.

He was also the teammate who assisted Wallace’s his first hat-trick on his national team debut during the 2016-2017 season.

“He literally got me started in the game,” Wallace told USA Hockey. “He was my teammate in my first game and actually got me a hat trick in my first game ever playing sled hockey, and [in Milano] he passed me the puck for my third goal and the hat trick. 

“I’m so happy to have met him and known him my entire life as long as I have. He’s one of the best leaders and captains anyone could ever ask for. He’s motivating, he’s inspirational, he leads by example and he’s just an amazing person.”

🏆⭐

Forward: 🇨🇦 Canada - Tyler McGregor
Defenseman: 🇺🇸 USA - Jack Wallace
Goalie: 🇨🇿 Czechia - Patrik Sedlacek
MVP: 🇺🇸 USA - Declan Farmer#Buffalo2025 #ParaIceHockey

📸: Micheline Veluvolu / USA Hockey@usahockey @HockeyCanada @parahockeycz pic.twitter.com/owZnUnA1CE

— Para Ice Hockey (@paraicehockey) June 1, 2025

From ice to canoeing

Wallace made his Paralympic debut at PyeongChang 2018 and has never lost a game at the Paralympic Winter Games. But this third gold carried a special weight. Four years ago, he played in half-empty venues in Beijing, where international spectators were not allowed to travel to due to COVID-19 restrictions.

This time, at Milano Santagiulia, he was not only surrounded by teammates and friends on the ice but also by family and friends in the stands. Some held signs that quickly became a fan favourite: posters featuring Wallace’s face and a dog’s face. His dog, Maggie.

"[I had] almost 30 people here. They made the trip, and I hadn't seen most of them yet, so I had to make sure to go up and say hi to them. 

"It's one of my favourite pictures, of my little dog, Maggie, who I miss, and I'm excited to go home and see. My sister and my girlfriend made them [the signs]." 

While he has no intention of stepping away from the team he loves, there have been reports he may explore a switch to summer sports in a bid to qualify for the home Games at Los Angeles 2028. Still on the water – just not frozen – he has already tried his hand at Para canoe.

"We'll see. Who knows what the future holds? I'm just going to enjoy this one,” he said. "I love that sport, I love competing in it. The original idea was just to do it to stay in shape for this team. If there's an opportunity for me to compete in the Summer Games, I'll definitely jump on it."

If he does qualify for LA28 in a new discipline, it would be unwise to rule him out. Wallace may not enter as a medal favourite – but who would have predicted consecutive hat-tricks in the World Championships and Paralympic gold medal games?