Johnny Gaudreau's Widow Says She’s ‘Very Proud’ of How U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Honored Her Late Husband After Olympic Victory
Johnny Gaudreau's Widow Says She’s ‘Very Proud’ of How U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Honored Her Late Husband After Olympic Victory
Skyler CarusoWed, February 25, 2026 at 9:54 PM UTC
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Team USA men's hockey honors the late Johnny Gaudreau after winning the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.Credit: Catherine Steenkeste/Getty; Elsa/Getty -
Meredith Gaudreau praised the U.S. men's hockey team for their heartfelt tribute to her late husband, Johnny Gaudreau, at the 2026 Winter Olympics
After U.S. star Jack Hughes hit the golden goal to win the game over Canada, the team celebrated on the ice with Meredith and Johnny's two kids
Team USA also honored Gaudreau's No. 13 jersey, proudly holding it up in his name
Meredith Gaudreau commended the U.S. men's hockey team for honoring her late husband, NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, after their gold medal win in overtime against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
As the team posed for photos on the ice with their medals on Sunday, Feb. 22, forward Dylan Larkin and defenseman Zach Werenski brought over Gaudreau's 3-year-old daughter, Noa, and 2-year-old son, Johnny Jr., to celebrate the victory at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy.
Gold medalists, Team United States, pose with Johnny Gaudreau's children and hockey jersey on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty
Larkin smiled alongside Johnny Jr. — who was celebrating his birthday — while holding up Gaudreau's No. 13 jersey, and Werenski held a grinning Noa. Meredith brought the kids to the game, alongside Johnny's parents, Jane and Guy Gaudreau.
"They didn't have to do that," Meredith told ABC News Live on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
"I was just very, very proud, and I'm very thankful to them for including my kids in it and just honoring my husband the way they do," she said. "It's the classiest thing. They do all these really kind gestures and include our kids in everything, because I know that's exactly what John would want."
The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau celebrate after Team USA defeats Canada 2-1 to win the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.Credit: Elsa/Getty
Meredith said she told Noa, "Daddy's friends want to take a picture with you and Johnny." She explained, "You get to do this because of daddy, and they love and they miss him, too."
The mom of two told the outlet that her daughter was "really excited," adding, "She's started to put things together, and she's very, very proud."
It was an emotional game for all, and a historic one at that. It marked the first time the U.S. men's hockey team won Olympic gold since the 1980 Miracle on Ice. Johnny's dad, Guy, was seen crying after Jack Hughes won the game in overtime for Team USA.
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Team USA men's hockey stars Auston Matthews #34, Zach Werenski #8 and Matthew Tkachuk #19 celebrate their gold medal win with the late Johnny Gaudreau's #13 jersey at the 2026 Winter Olympics.Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty
Johnny — who died at age 31 alongside his brother Matthew, 29, after they were struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver the night before their sister's wedding in August 2024 — was expected to make the U.S. Olympic team, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Winning and getting the chance to honor Johnny "was emotional," Zach Werenski, who was Johnny's former teammate on the Columbus Blue Jackets, told reporters, including PEOPLE, after the game.
"It was good emotions. It was happy emotions. It was something John would’ve been at, and to have his jersey out there for all the fans, for all the people to see," he continued. "His family was in the crowd. We brought his kids on the ice for the picture... I mean, it was just incredible."
Werenski added, "We wanted to make him proud, and I think we did that."
Defenseman Jake Sanderson, who previously played with Johnny on Team USA at the World Championships, reflected, "To get his kids on the ice for that team picture, it’s pretty emotional to get his jersey. This win is for him and his family."
To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan-Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.
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Source: “AOL Sports”
