Johnny Gaudreau — johnny gaudreau 'meant everything' to Team USA
In Milan, Team USA honored johnny gaudreau and his family after beating Canada 2-1 in overtime to win gold at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Players carried Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey onto the ice at Santagiulia Arena and later brought his children onto the ice for a team picture.
Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey honored
Matthew Tkachuk, Zach Werenski and Auston Matthews carried Johnny Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey onto the ice after the Americans defeated Team Canada 2-1 in overtime at Santagiulia Arena on Sunday. Matthews, the United States' captain, said, “We’re obviously thinking of him, and we just felt like the impact that he’s had on so many guys in our room was special. And he was with us here in spirit the whole tournament. ”
How the tribute unfolded
Werenski and Dylan Larkin had worked out the plan in the hours before the gold medal game: if the United States won, they wanted a team picture with the Gaudreau family on the ice. After the win, Werenski, Matthews and Tkachuk paraded Gaudreau’s Team USA jersey around the ice. Werenski said, “We wanted to get the whole family on, but it was kind of hard with the gate, so we figured we’d grab the kids. ”
Family on the ice
Werenski and Larkin found Johnny and Meredith Gaudreau’s 3-year-old daughter Noa and son Johnny Jr., who turned 2 on Sunday. When the Americans took a team picture afterward, Dylan Larkin held Johnny Jr. and Werenski held Noa; Larkin and Matthew Tkachuk held Gaudreau's jersey. Werenski said, “It meant everything. This is something John would have been at, and to see his family here supporting us, seeing his kids, bringing them on the ice... we talked about playing for him, making him proud, and I think we did that. Super special to see them and to have his kids on the ice. He was a huge part of USA Hockey. ”
Gaudreau’s career and legacy
Known as "Johnny Hockey, " Johnny Gaudreau represented the United States multiple times. He led the tournament with seven goals when the U. S. won gold at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia, and he helped the U. S. win bronze at the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Denmark. In the NHL from 2014-24 he had 743 points (243 goals, 500 assists) in 763 games for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets. From 2014-15 through 2023-24 he ranked second in points among U. S. -born players to Patrick Kane, who had 791 points (293 goals, 498 assists) in 715 games for the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.
The deaths and legal status
Johnny and his brother, Matthew, died on Aug. 29, 2024 — the night before they were to attend the wedding of their sister, Katie — when they were riding bicycles near their home in Salem County, New Jersey, and struck by a car. Johnny was 31. Matthew was 29. An alleged drunk driver has been charged with two counts of death by auto.
The gold-winning game
The United States won its first men’s Olympic hockey gold medal in 46 years, beating Canada 2-1 in overtime despite being outshot dramatically. Connor Hellebuyck was described as valiant in net as Canada had missed chance after missed chance, including when Nathan MacKinnon blew a wide-open cage in the waning minutes. Dylan Larkin reflected on the game and Gaudreau’s presence, saying, “Johnny and Matty should be here, and that is still the biggest loss that all of us, USA Hockey, their family, our family, has gone through, and to have Johnny Jr. and Noa out there, it just felt right. Johnny’s family first. ”
Brady Tkachuk said, “We miss him and Matty so dearly. He would have been on this team. He’s touched everybody on that ice.... We just wanted to show the Gaudreau family our support. He was so near and dear to a lot of us, and we miss him greatly, and we did it for them. ” Brock Faber, eyes welling, said, “Just shows the lasting impact he’ll forever have on this team. His jersey will always be hung up in this locker room, and just really puts things into perspective when you see those kids on the ice and his family in the stands. His legacy will live on, and even though he is not here, he’s a part of this team, a huge part of this team. ”
Werenski also said he felt Johnny’s presence through the tournament, noting similar feelings in Columbus and at the World Championships. He added that seeing Johnny’s parents, Guy and Jane, at the arena was a special moment.
The Americans had hung Johnny’s jersey in their locker room at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February and at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Denmark and Sweden, where they won gold. In Milan, Johnny's jersey hung above a banner displaying Johnny’s No. 13 and Matthew’s No. 21 from Boston College.
Team USA players said their on-ice tribute and the presence of Gaudreau’s family made the victory especially meaningful.
