U.S. Hockey Team Honors Johnny Gaudreau as They Pursue Olympic Gold
MILAN – The U.S. Men’s hockey team is carrying the memory of the late Johnny Gaudreau with them as they prepare to compete for the gold medal against Canada on Sunday, . Gaudreau, an elite player and the all-time U.S. Leading scorer in international play, had been working towards representing his country at the Winter Olympics.
Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, shared a lifelong dream of playing in the Olympics, according to their mother, Jane Gaudreau. “It was their dream,” she said of her sons.
Tragically, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau died on , after being struck by an SUV while riding bicycles near their hometown in New Jersey, just days before their sister Katie’s wedding. Their deaths sent shockwaves through the hockey community, and they have been honored with retired numbers and a memorial 5K, among other tributes.
Despite the profound loss, Gaudreau was projected to be on the U.S. Olympic roster had he been alive, according to USA Hockey. His father, Guy Gaudreau, shared that the organization informed the family of this projection. “He wanted to be on this team,” Guy Gaudreau said during the third period of the U.S. Semifinal win on . “And it would’ve been nice if he’d been here.”
The team is honoring the Gaudreau brothers with a special tribute in their locker room at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. A blue No. 13 Gaudreau jersey hangs as a poignant reminder of the player affectionately known as “Johnny Hockey.”
Dylan Larkin, who played with Gaudreau at multiple world championships, emphasized the significance of the tribute. “It means everything – we all know he should be here with us,” Larkin said. “He should be with us. We love him, and I like that we continue to think about him and I wouldn’t imagine it any other way.”
Jane and Guy Gaudreau, along with Johnny’s widow, Meredith, and their two oldest children, traveled to Milan on , to support the team. Initially hesitant about the trip, they were encouraged by their daughters to attend. “Our two daughters, for 24 hours, they just kept at us: ‘You have to go. The boys would want you to do this. This would mean so much to John,’” Jane Gaudreau explained. “It just means so much to our family, and we’re so excited to remember what our boys meant to hockey.”
The Gaudreau family’s connections within the U.S. Team run deep, with ties to players like Noah Hanifin and Zach Werenski, whom Johnny played with on the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, respectively.
Hanifin spoke to the team’s collective sentiment, stating, “Johnny was close to a lot of guys in that room. We know he’d be here with us, so we’ve been thinking about him and carrying him with us.”
Werenski shared that Meredith Gaudreau had reached out to his wife a few days prior to let them know the family would be in attendance. “It’s great having them here, and it’s super special,” Werenski said. “We’re happy that we made it to the gold-medal game so they can watch that and be a part of it. It’s on us to make them proud.”
U.S. Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed that Gaudreau would have been on the team if he were still alive, citing his exceptional talent and contributions to the U.S. Program. “He was one of America’s very best,” Sullivan said. “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.”
Players continue to share stories about Gaudreau, remembering his personality and impact. Charlie McAvoy, who played alongside Gaudreau at the World Championships, described him as “an amazing person, just an infectious personality.” He noted the subtle but meaningful reminders of Gaudreau within the team’s facilities. “The detail, really, with our staff and our equipment staff especially to make sure that he’s always with us, little reminders of him in the room, and they just go a long way. You always see them. They’re just gentle. They’re right there. But we know that he’s always with us.”
Alongside Johnny’s No. 13 jersey, Matthew’s No. 21 is also displayed in the locker room, mirroring a tribute USA Hockey previously implemented at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
This marks Gaudreau’s first opportunity to compete at the Olympics after the NHL’s absence from the and Winter Games. Larkin expressed hope that the tradition of honoring Gaudreau will continue for years to come. “I hope so,” he said. “I sure hope so.”
