MILAN - The U.S. Olympic hockey team secured its first gold medal since 1980, defeating Canada in a dramatic overtime victory. Following the win, the team honored their late teammate, Johnny Gaudreau, who was tragically killed in August 2024 along with his brother Matthew by a drunk driver.
During the medal ceremony, players held up a No. 13 jersey bearing Gaudreau's name. Captain Auston Matthews emphasized Gaudreau's significant impact on the team, stating, "He was with us here in spirit the whole tournament."
After receiving their medals, Zach Werenski and Dylan Larkin invited Gaudreau's children onto the ice. The team posed for a victory photo with Gaudreau's jersey and his children, a poignant tribute to their fallen teammate.
Larkin expressed the team's sentiment: "This is for a lot of people. This is for the guys that wore this jersey before us, and Johnny Gaudreau especially." Chants of "Johnny Hockey" echoed through the arena, underscoring Gaudreau's lasting legacy.