Johnny Gaudreau wasn’t physically on the ice for Team USA in their Gold Medal Game triumph over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but his teammates made sure he was forever remembered.
Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski, and Matthew Tkachuk carrying Gaudreau’s jersey around the ice at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena after defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime. The emotional tribute inspired a loud “Johnny Hockey” chant as the Gaudreau family, in attendance for the game, looked on with tears in their eyes.
“[Johnny is] on everybody’s mind; we’ve had his jersey in the locker room every game,” Matthews told NHL.com’s Christopher Detwiler postgame. “So many guys on this team grew up with him and were close with him, and he’s here with us in spirit; it’s awesome.”
After skating a few laps with Gaudreau’s jersey, the players were then awarded their gold medals. Once the entire roster received their new hardware, they met at center ice to take a customary championship team photo.
While getting ready to pose for the cameras, Werenski and Dylan Larkin jetted off to the stands to grab Johnny’s children, Noa and Johnny Jr., from his wife, Meredith Gaudreau. The two players then brought the kids over to take the team photo while holding up their father’s jersey.
“It’s fun to be a part of this,” Meredith told NHL.com earlier this week. “We wished we were a part of it, so when we got the call to come out, it felt like maybe [Johnny] did make the team. So, it’s fun here to represent him, and support everyone who’s honoring him as well.”
Team USA hockey teams at the World Juniors and World Championships, after the Gaudreau brothers’ deaths, have made a point of hanging Johnny’s number 13 jersey in their locker rooms. That tradition continued at these Olympics.
Johnny Gaudreau starred for Team USA throughout his career, starting at the World Juniors in 2013, when he led the tournament with 7 goals en route to a gold medal. He then played for his country in five World Championships, earning a bronze medal in 2018 and playing in his last just months before his death in 2024.
Sunday’s win for Team USA also comes exactly 46 years after the fabled “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union in 1980.
