Winning it for Johnny Gaudreau: Team USA wins historic gold and honors a fallen teammate
johnny gaudreau was at the center of Team USA’s celebration after the United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime on Sunday in Milan, winning men’s Olympic hockey gold for the first time in 46 years and pausing afterward to honor the late Gaudreau brothers.
How the tribute came together
In the hours leading up to Sunday’s gold medal game in Milan, Columbus Blue Jackets captain Zach Werenski and Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin hatched a plan: if the United States won, they wanted a team picture on the ice with the Gaudreau family. Werenski, who was Johnny’s former Blue Jackets teammate, said they tried to get the whole family onto the ice but decided to bring the children forward because of access issues at the gate.
Johnny Gaudreau's family on the ice
After the win, Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk paraded Johnny’s Team USA jersey around the ice, and Werenski and Larkin found Johnny and Meredith Gaudreau’s 3-year-old daughter, Noa, and son, Johnny Jr., who turned 2 on Sunday. Werenski and Larkin put the children on their laps for the team photo while members of the family, including the Gaudreaus’ parents Guy and Jane, watched from the stands.
Game finish and key plays
The United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime Sunday despite being outshot dramatically. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was valiant in net, and Canada squandered multiple chances — including a moment late when Nathan MacKinnon blew a wide-open cage in the waning minutes.
Team reaction and what the win meant
Werenski said he felt Johnny’s presence throughout the tournament, noting that feeling had shown up in Columbus, at the World Championships last year and now at the Olympics, and that players talked about playing for Johnny and making him proud. Larkin said, plainly, that "Johnny and Matty should be here" and called their absence the biggest loss for USA Hockey and the players, adding that "Johnny’s family first" as the reason the tribute felt right.
United States defenseman Brock Faber watched the scene with tears, noting that seeing Noa and Johnny Jr. on Larkin’s and Werenski’s laps underscored Johnny’s lasting impact on the team. Faber said Johnny’s jersey will always hang in the locker room and that Johnny’s legacy will live on as part of the team. Matthews added that Johnny had a big impact on many players who grew up with him, played with him or spent time with him in the NHL or at the World Championships; he noted that the team had Johnny’s jersey in the room last year in the 4 Nations and again at the Olympics—his quote in the source cuts off and is unclear in the provided context.
Remembering how they were lost
The beloved "Johnny Hockey" and his brother Matthew Gaudreau died after being struck by an alleged drunk driver while riding their bicycles home after their sister’s rehearsal dinner in August 2024. Players said they felt the brothers’ presence during the tournament, with Larkin half-joking that part of why the puck did not go into the U. S. net was that Johnny was somehow "standing there doing something, " putting a spell around the net — ironic, Larkin said, because Johnny would never have been back there defensively.
A photograph by Peter Kneffel / Picture alliance Getty Images captured the moment of the children on the players’ laps and the jersey being held aloft.
Players and staff said they could not wait to celebrate with Johnny’s family; Larkin said the team is looking forward to celebrating with them after winning the gold.
