Team USA Men's Hockey Honors Late Johnny Gaudreau at Olympics

Gaudreau's widow 'thankful' for the team's tributes to her late husband during their gold medal run.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The U.S. men's hockey team honored the late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau throughout their gold medal-winning run at the Winter Olympics in Milan. Several players carried Gaudreau's jersey around the ice, brought his children onto the rink for photos, and chanted his nickname 'Johnny Hockey' at a celebratory event. Gaudreau's widow, Meredith, expressed gratitude for the team's tributes, saying it meant the 'world' to her and that Gaudreau would have been 'very thankful and very proud' of the players.

Why it matters

Gaudreau, who was killed by an alleged drunk driver in 2024, was set to make the U.S. Olympic team before his tragic death. The team's emotional tributes to their fallen teammate on the biggest stage in international hockey highlight the close-knit nature of the sport and the lasting impact Gaudreau had on those who knew him.

The details

The U.S. men's hockey team carried Gaudreau's jersey around the ice in Milan, brought his children onto the rink for photos with the team, and chanted his nickname 'Johnny Hockey' at a celebratory event in Miami after winning the gold medal in overtime against Canada.

  • The U.S. team honored Gaudreau throughout their Olympic run in Milan.
  • The team celebrated their gold medal victory at a Miami nightclub on Monday night.

The players

Johnny Gaudreau

A former NHL star who was set to make the U.S. Olympic hockey team before his tragic death in 2024.

Meredith Gaudreau

The widow of Johnny Gaudreau, who expressed gratitude for the team's tributes to her late husband.

Mike Sullivan

The head coach of the U.S. men's hockey team, who said Gaudreau would have made the Olympic squad.

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What they’re saying

“It meant the world to me. I really am so thankful to these guys for being really great friends, really great teammates. Just to include our kids and honor John the way they do, it's all I can ask for right now. I think John would be very flattered, very humbled. It's just really, really heartwarming that they show him that much respect and continue to do these things. It's very touching.”

— Meredith Gaudreau, Widow of Johnny Gaudreau (Fox & Friends)

“I think he's very proud of them. Bringing his jersey every step of the way, making him a part of this. He really, really wanted to be a part of this. I think he would be very, very thankful and very proud of these guys.”

— Meredith Gaudreau, Widow of Johnny Gaudreau (Fox & Friends)

What’s next

The U.S. men's hockey team plans to continue honoring Gaudreau's memory, including potentially retiring his jersey number.

The takeaway

The U.S. men's hockey team's emotional tributes to their fallen teammate Johnny Gaudreau during their gold medal run at the Olympics showcased the tight-knit nature of the sport and the lasting impact Gaudreau had on those who knew him. Gaudreau's widow was deeply moved by the team's gestures, which she said would have meant the world to her late husband.