Emotional Tribute as Team USA Wins Olympic Gold Honors Fallen New Jersey Hockey Star

The summertime in South Jersey is usually the highlight of the year for many local and visitors. But in August 2024, there was heartbreak that directly and indirectly impacted thousands of people.

When Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed while riding their bikes near their hometown in New Jersey, it was more than just their family and friends who were impacted. When that SUV driver struck and killed the Gaudreau brothers, the USA Hockey world would mourn the loss of a beloved teammate.

Johnny Gaudreau was one of the United States Hockey Players who was a part of the movement to get National Hockey League (NHL) players back in the Winter Olympics. But his life was cut short before he could see USA Hockey's best players back on the biggest stage in international hockey.

USA Hockey Remembers Gaudreau While Making Olympic History

Continuing a tradition that began during the Four Nations Tournament in 2025, the USA Men's Hockey Team had Johnny Gaudreau's number 13 Jersey with them in the locker room before every game to remind them of their hockey brother, affectionately known as "Johnny Hockey".

The United States Men's Hockey Team won their first Gold Medal at the Winter Olympics since the famous "Miracle on Ice" USA Hockey team in 1980. In fact, they won the Gold Medal game on the same exact date as the "Miracle on Ice" (February 22, 1980).

As part of their celebration, the USA Men's Hockey Team broughtJohnny Gaudreau's Jersey onto the ice, symbolic of his importance to the men on the team who played with him both in the NHL andpast international competitions.

Three of the stars for the Men's USA Hockey team's historic run to winning the Gold Medal, Defenseman Zach Werenski, Forward Matthew Tkachuk, and Forward Dylan Larkin took the tribute to "Johnny Hockey" one step further: they brought Gaudreau's two kids, Noa and Johnny Jr, to join them for the Gold Medal-winning photo.

Werenski played two seasons with Johnny Gaudreau with the Columbus Blue Jays and the two previously played together internationally for USA Hockey in 2019 along with 2024. Larkin played with Gaureau three times for USA in International Tournaments (2016, 2018, 2019).  Matthew Tkachuk played six seasons with Gaudreau as teammates on the Calgary Flames.

Johnny Gaudreau's parents were also in attendance for the USA Men's Hockey team win in the Gold Medal game, in which the US won 2-1 in Overtime against Team Canada.