The Crew USA males’s hockey staff felt Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s spirits after they took house the gold on the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“Johnny and Matty needs to be right here and that’s nonetheless the most important loss that every one of us at USA hockey, their households (and) our household, has gone by means of,” Dylan Larkin informed reporters after the Sunday, February 22, gold medal recreation. “Johnny (is) household first.”
Crew USA beat Crew Canada 2-1 in a sudden-death time beyond regulation win on Sunday, the American squad’s first gold medal victory since 1980’s famed “Miracle on Ice.”
“I believe a part of the puck not getting in our web was one way or the other, that he’s standing there doing one thing,” Larkin, 29, stated, including that he footage Johnny and Matthew laughing as they “simply one way or the other they put a spell round (the Crew USA) web the place that puck didn’t go in.”
Crew USA males’s hockey saved the late Johnny Gaudreau of their hearts after they formally turned gold medal champions on the 2026 Winter Olympics. Crew USA beat Crew Canada 2-1 within the gold medal recreation on Sunday, February 22, the place they sweetly honored Gaudreau upon their victory. (The American victory marks the primary time that (…)
Johnny and his brother, Matthew Gaudreauhave been struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver whereas biking in New Jersey in August 2024, simply days earlier than their sister Katie Gaudreau’s marriage ceremony. The brothers have been 31 and 29, respectively.
The siblings are survived by their mother and father, two sisters and respective wives and kids. Matthew was married to Madeline Gaudreau, with whom he shared son Tripp. Johnny, for his half, is survived by his spouse, Meredith Gaudreau, and their three youngsters.
Meredith attended the gold medal recreation along with her youngsters and in-laws.
“You have to be right here, John, and I’m so sorry you aren’t,” Johnny’s widow wrote through her Instagram Tales on Friday, February 20. “So pleased with you and your legacy.”
Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk maintain up a ‘Gaudreau 13’ jersey.
Gregory Shamus/Getty PhotosAs Crew USA celebrated their victory, they held up an Olympics jersey with Johnny’s final identify and invited his youngsters Noa, 3, and Johnny Jr., 2, onto the ice to rejoice with the staff. (Johnny and Meredith additionally shared son Carter, who was born in April 2025.)
Larkin, for his half, informed reporters that “simply felt proper” to ask Johnny’s youngsters onto the ice.
The Olympic victory additionally coincided with Johnny Jr.’s birthday.
“2-22 is child Johnny’s birthday!! Particular date picked by his daddy as a result of journey on the time,” Meredith wrote through Instagram on Saturday, February 21. “Joyful 2nd birthday to our child Johnny boy! We love you a lot. I’m so pleased with you. Couldn’t consider a greater strategy to spend your 2nd birthday than for a enjoyable day tomorrow.”
Crew USA had the total assist of the Gaudreau household on the 2026 Winter Olympics. Johnny Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith Gaudreau, and his mother and father have been noticed within the crowd throughout the males’s hockey semifinal matchup towards Slovakia on Friday, February 20. (Crew USA in the end received the sport, advancing to the gold medal championship spherical towards Canada (…)
Johnny’s mother, Jane Gaudreausubsequently responded within the feedback part.
“Joyful Birthday Child Johnny! Mother-Mother & Pop-Pop love you a lot and we are able to’t wait to spend the day with you,” Jane wrote. “Love you to the moon and again!”
Johnny was a ahead for the Columbus Blue Jackets and had ambitions to symbolize Crew USA on the Olympics forward of his dying.
“He was decided to earn his spot on that Olympic roster,” the Gaudreau household wrote in a social media assertion earlier this month. “Whereas it breaks our hearts that John received’t be there to dwell out that dream, we all know he can be so very current with Crew USA and all of his shut mates competing all through these video games. Although the Olympics can be bittersweet for our household, we discover consolation understanding that within the hearts of his teammates, mates, and everybody who cherished watching him play, John can be proper there.”