EAST PALESTINE - East Palestine residents hosted a watch party at East Palestine High School to support village native J.T. Miller and the U.S. National Men's Ice Hockey Team against Canada during the Winter Olympic finals Sunday morning.

Elizabeth Sherry, a family friend of J.T. Miller, organized the event in the school's auditorium and invited the community to attend.

"I was his school counselor as well, and so it's real great to see his dreams come true," he said.

After the U.S. beat Canada 2-1 in overtime, Sherry says she sent a video of the crowd to Miller's family to share with him.

"We just felt like we were there, so having a big screen here really made it come alive for us," she said.

East Palestine native Parker Sherry, who is also Elizabeth Sherry's son, says he wore #10 in football partially because of J.T. Miller.

"You got to see him have so much success at the next level, and I was lucky enough to play college sports as well," he said.

Miller is currently the captain of the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League.

East Palestine resident DJ Yokley says Miller's leadership is his best quality as a hockey player.

"I know he's one of those guys that as long as the puck goes in the goal for the red, white, and blue, he's gonna be happy, and he's gonna celebrate, and so will we," he said.

With the win, Team USA earned its first gold medal in Men's Ice Hockey since the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY.