U.S. Pays Tribute to Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau as Men’s Hockey Plays for Olympic Gold vs Canada
The U. S. men’s hockey team has kept the memory of Johnny Gaudreau at the center of its run to the Winter Olympic final, honoring Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew while preparing to face Canada for the gold medal. The tribute has become a focal point for teammates, family and fans as the Americans chase Olympic gold.
Tribute to Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau in Milan
The U. S. team created a permanent reminder of the brothers inside its locker room at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena: a blue No. 13 Gaudreau jersey hangs as a symbol of Johnny Gaudreau’s place in the group and what he meant to teammates. The gesture followed the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were struck by an SUV while riding bicycles near their hometown in Salem County on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding.
Family members traveled to Milan to join the team’s run. Jane and Guy Gaudreau, along with Johnny’s widow and two of his children, arrived to be present for the semifinal win and the build-up to the final. The family had initially planned a separate trip and hesitated before accepting an invitation to attend; their daughters encouraged them to come, saying the boys would have wanted them there. The family’s presence has been described as meaningful by players and staff, and team leaders have emphasized the importance of having them at the tournament.
How the Team Carried Johnny Gaudreau Into the Final
Players and coaches framed the tribute as more than symbolic. Teammates who had played with Johnny Gaudreau at world championships and in the NHL noted deep personal connections: he had been teammates with players on the current roster at collegiate and professional levels. Those players said they continued to think of him throughout the tournament and felt he was part of the group’s motivation.
Coaching staff confirmed what team management had communicated to the Gaudreau family—that Johnny would have been on the projected roster for the Olympics based on his performance and body of work with the national team. That projection, combined with the visible locker-room tribute, has given the roster a persistent and personal reason to dedicate its play to his memory as the Americans prepare for their rivalry matchup with Canada in the gold-medal game.
Legacy in South Jersey and Ongoing Memorials
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau grew up in South Jersey and graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School. Their deaths in late August shocked their community and the broader hockey world. Memorials and honors have followed, including retired numbers and a family memorial 5K that celebrates their impact locally and on the sport.
For a generation of players and fans, the brothers’ story has become intertwined with the U. S. team’s Olympic journey. That connection is visible in Milan as the Americans prepare to meet Canada for gold: a jersey in the locker room, family members in the stands, and teammates carrying memories of Johnny and Matthew into the most important game of the tournament. The tribute underscores both the personal losses at the center of the story and the way a national team can make remembrance part of a competitive campaign.
Details in this account are based on recent developments at the Winter Olympics and statements from family members, players and coaching staff. Further updates may follow as the final unfolds and as the Gaudreau family events continue to be observed.
