Johnny Gaudreau honored as Team USA brings his children onto the ice during Olympic medal ceremony
Team USA brought Johnny Gaudreau’s children onto the ice during the Olympic medal ceremony after the American men's hockey team won gold for the first time in 46 years. The move served as an emotional tribute to the late Gaudreau brothers and underscored how the team carried their memory through the tournament.
Milan moment: items leading up to the gold medal game
In Milan, hours leading up to Sunday’s gold medal game, Columbus Blue Jackets captain Zach Werenski and Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin devised a plan: if the United States won gold, they wanted a team picture with the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s family on the ice. Werenski and Larkin determined it would be difficult to get the entire family past the gate, so they focused on bringing the children out for the team photo and medal ceremony.
How Johnny Gaudreau was honored on the ice
After the victory, Team USA captain Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk paraded Gaudreau’s Team USA jersey around the ice. Werenski and Larkin then located Johnny and Meredith Gaudreau’s children—Noa, their 3-year-old daughter, and Johnny Jr., who turned 2 on Sunday—and brought them onto the ice. During the team photo, the two children sat on Larkin’s and Werenski’s laps, becoming a central part of the celebratory scene.
The game: United States 2, Canada 1 (OT)
The United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime on Sunday. The Americans were outshot dramatically, while Connor Hellebuyck was valiant in net. Canada missed multiple chances, including a moment late in the game when Nathan MacKinnon blew a wide-open cage in the waning minutes.
Teammates’ reactions and the sense of presence
Zach Werenski said he felt Johnny’s presence throughout the tournament, noting that feeling had been strong in Columbus and at previous world-stage events. The team talked about playing for Johnny and making him proud. Dylan Larkin described the loss of Johnny and Matthew as the biggest loss their hockey community has gone through and said seeing Johnny Jr. and Noa on the ice felt right, emphasizing that Johnny’s family came first.
Emotional aftermath: locker-room legacy and visible grief
United States defenseman Brock Faber’s eyes welled up watching the scene with the two children on teammates’ laps. Faber noted the lasting impact Johnny will have on the team and that Johnny’s jersey will remain hung in the locker room. Auston Matthews reflected on Gaudreau’s broad influence, saying Gaudreau had a big impact on many players who grew up with him, played with him and spent time with him; the team had Gaudreau’s jersey in the room last year during the 4 Nations and again in their Olympic locker room.
Tragedy behind the tribute
The tribute followed the deaths of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who died after being struck by an alleged drunk driver while riding their bicycles home after their sister’s rehearsal dinner in August 2024. The brothers’ passing was referenced repeatedly during the celebration, and teammates expressed that Johnny and Matthew should have been there in person.
What happened on the ice and what comes next
The medal-ceremony moment and team photo with Johnny Gaudreau’s children offered a tangible way for Team USA to honor the brothers during a historic Olympic victory. The scene—the jersey parade, the children on teammates’ laps, and the visible emotion in the stands and locker room—reinforced how the team carried the Gaudreaus’ memory through the event. Further developments about memorials or long-term tributes were unclear in the provided context.
