U.S. hockey team honours late Johnny Gaudreau: ‘Here in spirit’

Olympic winners hoist No. 13 jersey of countrymate who was killed along with his brother Matthew by an alleged drunk driver in August 2024

Published Feb 22, 2026  •  Last updated 9 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk of Team United States celebrate winning the gold medal with the sweater of the late Johnny Gaudreau after the team's 2-1 overtime victory in men's hockey between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milan- Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. Photo by Jamie Squire

The late Johnny Gaudreau and his family played a pivotal role Sunday in Milan as the U.S. men’s hockey program celebrated its first Olympic gold medal in 46 years.

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The No. 13 jersey of Gaudreau — who was killed along with his brother Matthew by an alleged drunk driver in August 2024 — was hoisted on the ice by American teammates Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk after the U.S. beat Canada 2-1 in overtime at the Milano-Cortina Games.

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It marked the first Olympic men’s hockey gold for the Americans since the “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

Johnny’s daughter Noa, 3, and Johnny Jr., who turned two on Sunday, also joined the American squad on the ice for their team photo with the Gaudreau family in attendance at Santagiulia Arena.

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Gaudreau on ‘everybody’s mind:’ Matthews

In a post-game interview with rinkside reporter Kyle Bukauskas, an emotional Matthews spoke about how much the man known as “Johnny Hockey” meant to him and his U.S. teammates.

“He has been on everybody’s mind,” the Maple Leafs captain said. “We have his jersey in the locker-room every game. I mean, so many guys on this team grew up with him, played with him and were extremely close with him. He’s here with us in spirit. It’s awesome.”

Johnny, who was 31 at the time, and his brother Matthew died on Aug. 29, 2024, after being struck while biking by an alleged drunk driver in their home state of New Jersey. The two had returned home for their sister’s wedding, which had been scheduled to take place the day after their deaths.

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To remember them, the U.S. team set up a tribute to the brothers in their Olympic locker-room — they did something similar during the 2025 4-Nations Face-off and world championship — that included a poster with both of their numbers as well as Johnny’s Team USA jersey.

“Johnny and Matty should be here and that is still the biggest loss that all of us at USA Hockey, their families, our family, has gone through,” American forward and Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said after the game, via People.

“Somehow they put a spell around our net where that puck didn’t go in.”

Gaudreau ‘determined’ to be Olympian before death

While Gaudreau never got a chance to play in the Olympics, he was a longtime member of the U.S. men’s national program. The former Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets playmaker suited up in five world championships, winning a bronze medal in 2018, and won gold with the world junior team in 2013.

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The Gaudreau family said before the tournament that it was one of Johnny’s “greatest dreams” to represent the U.S. at the Olympics and he had been “training harder than ever” to do so before his death.

“He was determined to earn his spot on that Olympic roster,” the family in a statement released by USA Hockey. “While it breaks our hearts that John won’t be there to live out that dream, we know he will be so very present with Team USA and all of his close friends competing throughout these games.

“Though the Olympics will be bittersweet for our family, we find comfort knowing that in the hearts of his teammates, friends and everyone who loved watching him play, John will be right there.”

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