Team USA inspired by Johnny Gaudreau’s legacy as it enters Olympic semifinal

As Team USA enters the Olympic semifinal in Milan, johnny gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey continues to hang in the locker room and players say they are carrying him with them — a visible reminder as the Americans prepare for a key knockout game.

Johnny Gaudreau honored in locker room

The team has kept Gaudreau’s jersey on display throughout the tournament. In Milan the No. 13 hangs above a banner that also displays his brother Matthew’s No. 21 from Boston College. The gesture follows similar tributes at the Four Nations Face-Off and at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Denmark, where the U. S. won gold.

How teammates are carrying him

Players described Gaudreau as a present influence in the dressing room. Defenseman Noah Hanifin said teammates think of him and are "carrying him with us, " and other players noted his presence would have been felt in the locker room. Head coach Mike Sullivan praised Gaudreau’s dedication to the game and his character, saying he was an inspiration both on and off the ice.

Family message and Gaudreau’s record

The Gaudreau family issued a public statement ahead of the Olympic tournament saying representing Team USA was one of Johnny’s greatest dreams and that he had been training to earn a spot on the roster. The family wrote that, while they are heartbroken he cannot be there, they know he will be present with Team USA and friends competing at the Games.

Gaudreau’s international résumé appears in the team’s remembrance: he represented the United States multiple times across world events and led a world junior tournament in goals. At the men’s international level he tallied the most points in USA men’s IIHF history. In the NHL he amassed 742 points (242 goals, 500 assists) in 763 games between 2014 and 2024, a total highlighted in discussions of his standing among U. S. -born players.

What’s next for Team USA

The Americans are preparing for a semifinal matchup that was described in pregame notes as the next step on the path to a medal. Team USA is scheduled to play its next elimination game at 8: 10 a. m. ET. If the team advances, it will move on to the gold-medal game at the time listed for the final. Coaches and players have framed the tournament run in part as playing for teammates and family, and the presence of Gaudreau’s jersey has been positioned as a unifying emblem for that effort.

Key takeaways:

• Johnny Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey is on display in the Team USA locker room in Milan.
• Players and coaching staff say his character and play are a source of inspiration as the team enters the Olympic semifinal.
• The Gaudreau family emphasized his dream of wearing the Team USA jersey and expressed support for the team at the Games.