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The US men’s hockey team honored the late Johnny Gaudreau during the Winter Olympics on its way to an overtime gold medal against Canada.
Several members of the team carried Gaudreau’s jersey around the ice in Milan to honor the NHL star who was killed in New Jersey in 2024 by a suspected drunk driver. They also brought two of their children to the track to take photos with the team.
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United States players celebrate with a team photo while holding Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026. (Geoff Burke/Image Images)
Players also chanted Gaudreau’s nickname “Johnny Hockey” at the Miami nightclub where they partied Monday night. They are moments no player on the U.S. team will forget, and they meant a lot to Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, who watched it unfold.
“It meant a lot to me,” he said in an appearance on “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday. “I’m really very grateful to these guys for being great friends, great teammates. Just including our kids and honoring John the way they do, that’s all I can ask for right now. I think John would be very flattered, very honored. It’s really heartwarming that they show him so much respect and continue to do these things. It’s very touching.”
Johnny Gaudreau would have made the United States men’s team, according to head coach Mike Sullivan.
American Matthew Tkachuk (19) charges Noa Gaudreau after a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Meredith Gaudreau said she would “appreciate” the way the team honored him.
“I think he’s very proud of them,” she said. “Wearing his jersey every step of the way, making him a part of this. I really wanted to be a part of this. I think he would be very, very grateful and very proud of these guys.”
She added that the outpouring of love and support, especially from those who have never met her or her family, has been truly special.
Auston Matthews (34) of the United States, Zach Werenski (8) of the United States and Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the United States hold up John Gaudreau’s jersey after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026. (Amber Searls/Image Images)
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“Thank you for all the support,” he said. “All the messages. All the posts people make. I really read a lot of them, almost all of them. John’s impact impresses me more every day. This is a testament to that. There is no bigger stage than this Olympic Games stage. Seeing around the world that he was recognized and that we have global support is what it feels like now. It definitely helps on our difficult days.”
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