Johnny Gaudreau’s No. 13 Jersey Anchors Team USA’s Olympic Run in Milan

johnny gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey hangs in the Team USA locker room in Milan as the Americans advance at the Olympic Winter Games, and teammates say his presence is a continued source of motivation. The tribute has become part of the team’s identity as it prepares for its next high-stakes match.

What happened and what’s new

Team USA has suspended Johnny Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey in the locker room at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and displays a banner that also recognizes his brother’s college number. Coaches and players are openly referencing Gaudreau’s influence while competing at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

• Gaudreau and his brother died Aug. 29, 2024, after they were struck while riding bicycles near their New Jersey home; an alleged drunk driver has been charged with two counts of death by auto.
• The Gaudreau family posted a statement on Feb. 6 saying representing the U. S. at the Olympics had been one of Johnny’s greatest dreams and that he was training intensely in the months before his death.
• Several members of the U. S. roster and coaching staff have described the jersey as a tangible reminder they are competing in part for his memory; the team previously hung his jersey during the Four Nations Face-Off and at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Denmark, where the U. S. won gold.
• Gaudreau’s on-ice record cited by team leaders includes 742 points (242 goals, 500 assists) in 763 NHL games from 2014-24 and his leadership in international play, including leading a tournament with seven goals at the 2013 World Junior Championship and contributing to a bronze medal performance at the 2018 World Championship.
• Team USA was scheduled to play for an Olympic medal in Milan; the next match is listed for Sunday at 8: 10 a. m. ET.

Johnny Gaudreau — Behind the headline

The locker-room tribute reflects multiple strands of motivation and legacy. Team leaders emphasize Gaudreau’s character and international résumé as central reasons the group has embraced his memory. Coach Mike Sullivan has framed Gaudreau as an exemplar of dedication on and off the ice, and teammates describe carrying him with them as they compete.

Stakeholders in this dynamic include Team USA’s players and coaching staff, who gain a source of cohesion and emotional focus; the Gaudreau family, whose public statement frames the memorial; and the broader U. S. hockey community, which recognizes Gaudreau’s contributions at junior, world championship and NHL levels. The legal system and prosecutors are also stakeholders because of the ongoing case tied to the deaths.

What we still don’t know

• Whether Gaudreau would have been formally named to the Olympic roster had he lived — coaches have said they expected he would have been considered, but no official selection for him exists.
• Precise legal timelines and outcomes related to the criminal charges tied to the fatal collision remain pending.
• How long Team USA plans to maintain the jersey and banner in the locker room after the Olympics conclude.
• Any additional tributes or formal commemorations beyond the locker-room display and the family’s public statement.

What happens next

• Victory and ceremonial continuation: If Team USA wins its upcoming medal game, the team’s use of Gaudreau’s jersey may become a larger focal point of medal celebrations and postgame remarks.
• Legal developments: Progress in the criminal case tied to the deaths could produce court dates or filings that change public attention and memorial planning.
• Institutional remembrance: The U. S. program could formalize the tribute across future international events, following its prior practice at the Four Nations Face-Off and the World Championship.
• Private family steps: The Gaudreau family may issue additional statements outlining their wishes for how Johnny and his brother are remembered during and after the Games.

Why it matters

The tribute to Johnny Gaudreau is significant on multiple levels. For teammates, the memorial offers a focused emotional frame for competition at a marquee international event. For fans and the sport, it underscores how personal loss intersects with high-level performance and national representation. Gaudreau’s statistical track record and history of representing the U. S. internationally give the gesture concrete resonance: teammates are honoring both a person and a player who had a measurable impact on U. S. hockey.

Near-term implications include the potential for the team’s performance to be read through the lens of the tribute, shifts in public conversation if legal proceedings advance, and continued attention to how elite sports teams integrate memorials into competitive settings.