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The U.S. men’s hockey team paid tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau on Sunday as players wore his jersey and his children on the ice as they celebrated an Olympic gold medal.
Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by a suspected drunk driver in New Jersey in August 2024. They were in town for their sister’s wedding. The former Columbus Blue Jackets player likely would have made the team if not for the tragedy.
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Dylan Larkin (21) of the United States holds Johnny, the son of late player Johnny Gaudreau, while posing with teammates after a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, February 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
American Matthew Tkachuk (19) carries Noa Gaudreau, following a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, February 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Katie Gaudreau appeared on PK Press Club Channel’s “Fox & Friends” and thanked the team for what they did.
“Team USA really outdid itself. It meant the world,” she said Monday. “Even just taking his jersey off when Matthew (Tkachuk) came out with his jersey taking turns with the jersey. It really meant a lot. And we thought it was going to stop there.
“And then I remember looking at the jersey when they were handing out the gold medals and thinking, ‘Wow, he’s still there,’ and as the celebration went on, when they went to take the picture, they stopped for a little bit. We were like, ‘What are they doing? What are they doing?’ And I thought I heard them say earlier, “There’s Meredith in the crowd,” and when they went to pick up Johnny (Junior) for his second birthday and Noa, that really meant the world to us because, honestly, that’s what John wanted for his kids. He wanted them to have these experiences, these unique opportunities that he worked so hard for. »
USA MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM honors Johnny Gaudreau after winning Olympic gold
Team USA poses for a group photo Johnny Gaudreau’s children during the men’s gold medal game between Canada and the United States on day sixteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Getty Images)
The American team won the match 2-1, thanks to Jack Hughes’ overtime score. Canada missed a few chances to open the game.
Katie Gaudreau said she thinks maybe there was some sort of divine intervention that Canada missed some of the opportunities available to it.
“They would be very proud. They like to bite their nails, so they probably would have chirped at everyone. But they would have been proud,” she said. “I think there were a few goals that…they could have had a little help saving for. They weren’t met. There were a few times where I was looking, ‘How was this not met?’ I think they could have had some help behind the net. They were never quite defensive, so I don’t know if they would have been able to get back into the defensive zone to stop that puck. »
She said the grief of losing her brothers was still there, but thanks to the hockey community, she and her family were able to bear it day after day.
“There is no cure. We still take it day by day,” she said. “But with the help of the hockey community and North America as a whole, we have been able to take another step forward every day and I am very grateful for the community’s help. No parent, wife, sister or child should ever have to experience this tragedy.
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 Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026. (Amber Searls/Imagn Images)
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“The fact that we’re still here and taking it step by step to honor the boys and their legacy is really because of the community and things like Team USA and what they did yesterday. Just the outpouring of love and support for John’s kids, Matthew’s journey, it’s truly amazing what this community can really do.”
