MILAN (Azat TV) – The United States men’s ice hockey team captured its first Olympic gold medal since 1980 on February 22, 2026, defeating rival Canada 2-1 in a thrilling overtime final in Milan. In a deeply emotional tribute, Team USA dedicated its historic victory to the late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, whose No. 13 jersey was skated around the ice by team leaders Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski, and Matthew Tkachuk, with Gaudreau’s family watching from the stands.
Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew tragically died on August 29, 2024, when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver while cycling near their New Jersey hometown, on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding. Johnny was 31, and Matthew was 29.
Team USA’s Emotional Tribute to Johnny Gaudreau
The poignant celebration saw Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, along with their two oldest children and Johnny’s parents, Jane and Guy, attend the gold medal game. The family had made the trip to Italy after their daughters urged them, saying, “The boys would want you to do this. This would mean so much to John,” Jane Gaudreau told ESPN. After Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal at 1:41 of 3-on-3 overtime, the team’s leaders immediately brought Gaudreau’s jersey onto the ice for a victory lap, ensuring his presence in their greatest moment in nearly half a century.
This tribute was not a spontaneous gesture but the culmination of a tradition USA Hockey had cultivated across three consecutive international events since Gaudreau’s passing. It began at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025, where his father, Guy Gaudreau, was invited as a guest coach. Three months later, at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Stockholm, Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey was hung in the locker room, and Zach Werenski, a former teammate, brought it onto the ice for the trophy presentation after Team USA won gold. In Milan, both Johnny’s No. 13 and Matthew’s No. 21 jerseys were prominently displayed in the U.S. locker room throughout the tournament.
Johnny Gaudreau’s Enduring Legacy and Olympic Dream
John Michael Gaudreau, known affectionately as “Johnny Hockey,” was an American winger who played 11 NHL seasons with the Calgary Flames and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Drafted by the Flames in 2011, he recorded 210 goals and 399 assists in 602 games over nine seasons with Calgary, including a career-high 115 points in 2021-22. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2016-17, recognized for his elite stickhandling and offensive creativity despite his smaller stature.
Gaudreau left Calgary in 2022 to sign with Columbus, seeking to play closer to his New Jersey roots. He finished his NHL career with 243 goals, 500 assists, and 743 points in 763 regular-season games. Internationally, Gaudreau was Team USA’s all-time leading scorer in IIHF history, with 43 points in 40 games across six events. The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics represented his first real opportunity to compete on hockey’s biggest stage, as the NHL did not send players to the 2018 or 2022 Games. USA Hockey confirmed that Gaudreau would have been selected for the roster, with Head Coach Mike Sullivan stating, “He was one of America’s very best. He’s just a good person on the ice and off the ice, and I think he’s an inspiration to our players to this very day.” Gaudreau’s third child, Carter, was born in April 2025, underscoring the family’s ongoing journey.
Deep Connections Within Team USA
The personal connections between Team USA’s roster and the Gaudreau family run deep. Players like Noah Hanifin, Zach Werenski, Charlie McAvoy, and Dylan Larkin had shared ice with Johnny Gaudreau in the NHL or at international tournaments. “Johnny was close to a lot of guys in that room,” Hanifin commented. “We know he’d be here with us, so we’ve been thinking about him and carrying him with us.” Dylan Larkin, captain of the Detroit Red Wings, echoed this sentiment, stating via the New York Post, “We all played with him at some point along the line. He should be with us. What I can say, we love him. I like that we continue to think about him.” Gaudreau was also a beloved figure in his home region, with former NHL goaltender Bryan Boucher noting on the NBC telecast that Gaudreau was an ‘absolute hero’ in the Philadelphia area, particularly South Jersey, where he grew up.
The enduring commitment by Team USA to honor Johnny Gaudreau, culminating in their Olympic gold medal triumph, transcends a mere gesture of remembrance; it signifies a powerful affirmation of camaraderie and collective identity, ensuring that a beloved figure’s spirit remains an integral part of American hockey’s most celebrated achievements.