MILAN — He should be here in reality, but he will always be with them in spirit.
Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey hung in Team USA’s dressing room a year ago throughout the 4 Nations Face-Off, and it has done so again at the Milan Olympics. It’s a fair bet that No. 13 in stars and stripes will be there in every international tournament for the foreseeable future.
When they play for a gold medal on Sunday against Canada, they will do so for him.
“It means everything,” said Dylan Larkin, who like so many others on this Team USA was a friend of Gaudreau who played alongside him with the national team. “We all know he should be here with us. We all played with him at some point along the line. He should be with us.
“What I can say, we love him. I like that we continue to think about him. I wouldn’t imagine it any other way.”
Gaudreau, a superstar winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets, was tragically struck and killed in a hit-and-run in Oldmans Township, N.J., in August 2024, along with his brother, Matthew.
He was 31, Matthew was 29.
A suspected drunk driver hit both brothers, who were bicycling one night before their sister’s wedding, scheduled for the day after they were killed.
Just three months prior, Gaudreau had starred for Team USA in World Championships, adding to the belief that he would be part of the roster for 4 Nations and, eventually, these Olympics.
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More importantly, he left behind a pregnant wife, Meredith, and two young children. Meredith gave birth last April to a son, Carter.
The hockey world experienced an outpouring of grief over the tragedy. At the 4 Nations final in Boston last year, the crowd chanted “Johnny Hockey” throughout the game in his honor.
Even as the rawness of grief has faded this year, Team USA has made sure to keep Gaudreau front of mind.
“I think a lot of guys on this team grew up with Johnny or close with Johnny and his brother,” captain Auston Matthews said. “We had both their jerseys in the locker room last year at Four Nations, got his jersey in there 1771718661. This is just a subtle reminder that they’re with us in spirit and a lot of what we’re trying to do here is, obviously, we’re trying to win and conquer something great and win a gold medal, but keep them in mind. Those two are with us as well.”
Meredith Gaudreau, along with Johnny’s parents, Guy and Jane, made the trip to Milan and attended Friday night’s semifinal against Slovakia. If Team USA wins gold for the first time in 46 years on Sunday against Canada, it will be for Johnny.
“Meredith reached out to my wife a few days ago to say they were coming,” Zach Werenski said. “We’re all excited about it. Obviously it’s great having them here. It’s super special. We’re happy we made it to the gold medal game so they can watch that and be a part of it. Now it’s on us to make them proud.”
