Team USA Wins Gold and Honors Johnny Gaudreau
Team USA beat Canada 2-1 in overtime in Milan to win its first Olympic men’s hockey gold since 1980, carrying Johnny Gaudreau’s No.13 jersey onto the ice and bringing his children for a team photo.
Overview
Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime in Milan to win its first Olympic men's hockey gold since 1980.
Jack Hughes scored the winning goal two minutes into three-on-three overtime after Zach Werenski stripped Nathan McKinnon and set up the play.
Players carried Johnny Gaudreau's No. 13 jersey onto the ice and said he should have been on the roster, with Auston Matthews and J.T. Miller among those commenting.
Johnny and his brother Matthew died in August 2024 when an SUV struck them while they rode bicycles; his parents Guy and Jane, wife Meredith, and children Noa (3) and Johnny Jr. (2) attended.
Guy Gaudreau said USA Hockey told the family Johnny was on the projected roster, and Dylan Larkin dedicated the gold medal to Gaudreau and former USA Hockey executive Jim Johannson.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the victory as a unifying, patriotic triumph, using celebratory language ('the best hockey game in a generation', 'America won') and emotional personalization (honoring Johnny Gaudreau). They emphasize national pride and downplay complexities—omitting dissenting or critical perspectives—creating an overwhelmingly positive, sentiment-driven narrative.
Sources (16)
FAQ
Johnny Gaudreau was an elite Columbus Blue Jackets player and the all-time leading scorer in USA men's IIHF history with 43 points in 40 games across five World Championships (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2024).[1][2] He was projected to be on the 2026 Olympic roster and was described by coach Mike Sullivan as "one of America's very best" and "a good person on the ice and off the ice."[2] Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey in August 2024 while attending their sister's wedding.[3]
Team USA hung Gaudreau's No. 13 jersey in the locker room at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena throughout the tournament, alongside his brother Matthew's No. 21 jersey.[2] After winning the gold medal, players Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk carried Gaudreau's No. 13 jersey around the ice as a final tribute.[3] His family, including wife Meredith and children Noa and Johnny Jr., attended the games to represent him.[1]
Yes, USA Hockey management informed the Gaudreau family that Johnny was on the projected roster for the Olympics.[2] Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed that "Johnny would have been on the team if he were still alive, based on his body of work and how well he has played in a U.S. uniform," adding that this would have been his first Olympic opportunity after the NHL did not participate in 2018 and 2022.[2]
Meredith Gaudreau accepted an invitation to attend the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, describing it as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to represent her late husband.[1] She brought their children Noa (age 3) and Johnny Jr. (age 2) to the games, with Noa recognizing her father's No. 13 jersey and understanding they were at a special game with his friends.[1] The family also participated in a team photo with the USA Hockey roster.[3]
Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed in August 2024 when an SUV struck them while they were riding bicycles in New Jersey.[3] They were in town for their sister's wedding at the time of the incident, which involved an alleged drunk driver.[3]
History
4 sources