Team USA men's hockey honors Johnny Gaudreau after winning Olympic gold

The representation of the precocious Johnny Gaudreau weighed heavy connected the hearts and minds of Team USA men’s hockey passim the Winter Olympics arsenic the Americans carried his tone passim the Games.

Gaudreau’s jersey was a mainstay for Team USA arsenic they honored the precocious Columbus Blue Jackets prima passim the Milan Cortina Games. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed by an alleged drunk operator successful New Jersey successful August 2024. They were successful municipality for their sister’s wedding.

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Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk clasp up the jersey of John Gaudreau aft defeating Canada astatine the Winter Olympics astatine Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena connected Feb. 22, 2026. (Amber Searls/Imagn Images)

Since then, the Americans honored Johnny Gaudreau arsenic helium was connected aggregate nationalist teams erstwhile the U.S. was playing successful the satellite championships. Gaudreau was connected way to marque the Olympic squad erstwhile the deadly incidental occurred.

The U.S. won the golden medal connected Sunday implicit Canada. Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk carried Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey astir the crystal arsenic the latest tribute for the hockey player.

Gaudreau’s parents, Guy and Jay, his widow Meredith, and their oldest children were successful attendance. John Jr. and his sister Noa were brought onto the crystal for the squad photograph arsenic the U.S. celebrated winning gold. It was besides John Jr.’s 2nd birthday.

Dylan Larkin holds Johnny, the lad of the precocious subordinate Johnny Gaudreau, portion posing with teammates aft their golden medal triumph astatine the Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

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"He was truthful adjacent and beloved to us," Brady Tkachuk said. "We did it for him."

Team USA caput manager Mike Sullivan said earlier the golden medal crippled that Gaudreau would person been connected the Olympic squad if helium were inactive alive.

"He was 1 of America’s precise best," Sullivan said. "He’s conscionable a bully idiosyncratic connected the crystal and disconnected the ice, and I deliberation he’s an inspiration to our players to this precise day."

Those closest to him volition present observe successful his memory, including those who were connected the Blue Jackets, including Werenski. Team USA’s Noah Hanifin played with Gaudreau portion they were connected the Calgary Flames.

Matthew Tkachuk carries Noa Gaudreau, aft defeating Canada astatine the Winter Olympics, successful Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

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"It means everything — we each cognize helium should beryllium present with us," Dylan Larkin added. "He should beryllium with us. We emotion him, and I similar that we proceed to deliberation astir him and I wouldn’t ideate it immoderate different way."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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