When Team USA won Olympic gold in men's hockey Sunday night in Milan, the celebration included one bittersweet image above all others: players carrying Johnny Gaudreau's No. 13 jersey onto the ice, surrounded by his family. Here is everything you need to know about Johnny Gaudreau, how he died, his brother Matthew Gaudreau, his wife Meredith, their children, and why his memory defined Team USA's gold medal run.

Who Was Johnny Gaudreau?

John Michael Gaudreau (August 13, 1993 – August 29, 2024) was an American professional ice hockey player. Nicknamed "Johnny Hockey," he played 11 seasons in the NHL — nine with the Calgary Flames and two with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was named the 2014 Hobey Baker Award winner as the best NCAA player, was a seven-time NHL All-Star, and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2016–17. He was also the all-time leading American scorer in IIHF World Championship history.

How Did Johnny Gaudreau Die? The Gaudreau Brothers Death

On the evening of August 29, 2024, Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau were struck and killed by a drunk driver while cycling in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. The brothers were cycling at around 8 p.m. and were hit from the rear by a motorist attempting to pass other vehicles on a two-lane rural highway. Both brothers were found dead at the scene by the time police arrived.

The brothers were in town to be groomsmen at their sister's wedding the very next day. Driver Sean Higgins, 44, was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter, reckless vehicular homicide, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Higgins admitted he had consumed alcohol before driving and was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Johnny Gaudreau's Wife Meredith & Their Children

Gaudreau married his wife, Meredith, in September 2021. The couple had three children. Daughter Noa was born in September 2022, and son Johnny Jr. was born in February 2024. On September 9, 2024, Meredith announced in her eulogy that she was pregnant with their third child.

Meredith Gaudreau welcomed their third child, a baby boy named Carter Michael Gaudreau — sharing the same middle name as his late father — on April 1, 2025.

Was Johnny Gaudreau Supposed to Be on Team USA at the 2026 Olympics?

Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed that Johnny Gaudreau would have been on the Team USA Olympic roster if he were still alive, based on his body of work and international play history. USA Hockey told the Gaudreau family that Johnny was on the projected roster. "He wanted to be on this team," his father Guy Gaudreau said.

How Team USA Honored Gaudreau at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Team USA kept Johnny's No. 13 jersey hanging in their locker room throughout every game in Milan. After Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the U.S. their first gold medal in men's hockey in 46 years, the team immediately paid tribute to their fallen friend — carrying his jersey onto the ice for the team photo.

Johnny's widow Meredith Gaudreau, his parents Jane and Guy Gaudreau, and his two oldest children traveled to Milan for the gold medal game. "It's fun to be a part of this," Meredith told NHL.com. "We wished we were a part of it, so when we got the call to come out, it felt like maybe he did make the team."

Dylan Larkin spoke for the entire team: "It means everything — we all know he should be here with us. He should be with us. We love him."

The Gaudreau Family Legacy

Johnny Gaudreau's father, Guy Gaudreau, played college hockey at Norwich University and was inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. Matthew's wife, Madeline, gave birth to their child — Johnny's nephew — in December 2024, just months after the brothers were killed. The Gaudreau family's presence at the gold medal game in Milan served as one of the most emotional moments of the entire 2026 Winter Olympics.