Johnny Gaudreau honored as Team USA brings his children on ice after Olympic gold
Team USA carried johnny gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey onto the ice and brought his young children onto the ice during the medal celebration after beating Canada 2-1 in overtime at Santagiulia Arena at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, a gesture teammates said "meant everything. "
How teammates carried his jersey onto the ice
After the overtime victory over Team Canada, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk and Zach Werenski paraded Johnny’s No. 13 Team USA jersey around the ice at Santagiulia Arena in Milan, then carried it onto the ice during the postgame celebration following the 2-1 win in overtime.
Johnny Gaudreau's family on the ice — a planned moment
Zach Werenski and Dylan Larkin had planned to get the Gaudreau family onto the ice if the United States won; when the moment came they found Johnny and Meredith Gaudreau’s daughter Noa, age 3, and son Johnny Jr., who turned 2 on Sunday, and sat them on laps for the team photo.
Why the tribute resonated with the locker room
Team captain Auston Matthews said the late forward was "with us here in spirit the whole tournament, " and Werenski added it "meant everything, " calling the scene with the family "super special" and saying the team had talked about playing for Johnny and making him proud.
Remembering the Gaudreau brothers and their connection to USA Hockey
Johnny and his brother Matthew died on Aug. 29, 2024, the night before they were to attend their sister Katie’s wedding, when they were riding bicycles near their home in Salem County, New Jersey, and were struck by a car; an alleged drunk driver has been charged with two counts of death by auto. Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29.
Earlier displays, career highlights and locker-room tributes
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 the U. S. won gold; in Milan his jersey hung above a banner showing Johnny’s No. 13 and Matthew’s No. 21 from Boston College.
What teammates and coaches recalled about his impact
Brady Tkachuk said, "We miss him and Matty so dearly, " adding that Johnny would have been on the Olympic team and that the tribute was meant to show support for the Gaudreau family; Werenski and Dylan Larkin each held one of Johnny’s children for the team picture, and Larkin and Matthew Tkachuk held Johnny’s jersey afterward.
Career numbers, milestones and international play
Known as "Johnny Hockey, " Gaudreau had 743 points (243 goals, 500 assists) in 763 NHL games for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets from 2014-24. He led the tournament with seven goals when the United States won gold at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia and helped the U. S. win bronze at the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Denmark.
Comparisons and lasting legacy inside the sport
From 2014-15 through 2023-24, Johnny 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. Defenseman Brock Faber said seeing Johnny’s kids on the ice "just shows the lasting impact he’ll forever have on this team, " and noted the jersey will remain hung in the locker room.
Sunday’s game details that framed the tribute
The United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime despite being outshot significantly; goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was described as valiant in net, and Canada missed several chances, including a wide-open cage that Nathan MacKinnon blew in the waning minutes.
Team officials and players said the celebration with Johnny’s children and the carrying of his jersey brought the moment full circle for a team that had displayed his jersey at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2025 World Championship; the Gaudreau family attended the game and joined the team picture on the ice.
Team USA’s next confirmed public schedule information was unclear in the provided context.
