The United States men’s hockey team delivered a gold medal thanks to a dominant performance from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and the game-winning overtime goal from Jack Hughes in a 2-1 victory over Canada.
Immediately after winning the game, members of Team USA brought out the jersey of former NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, who was working hard on becoming a member of the Olympic team alongside his brother Matthew. The two were died on Aug. 29, 2024, when they were struck by an SUV while riding bicycles near their hometown in New Jersey on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding.
As Team USA honored Gaudreau with his jersey on the ice, NBC’s cameras caught his parents and wife, Meredith, in the stands showing their reactions to the emotional moment. Not long later, several United States players brought they couple’s children on the ice for the gold medal photo.
After taking some time to soak in the moment, Gaudreau took to social media to deliver a final message after the United States won gold a year and a half after her husband’s tragic death.
“Every day for you and our kids,” she said in reaction to a post from ESPN showing Gaudreau’s parents, his jersey and his wife alongside their daughter.
Gaudreau’s parents, Jane and Guy, revealed they nearly didn’t travel to Milan for the games.
“Our two daughters, for 24 hours, they just kept at us: ‘You have to go. The boys would want you to do this. This would mean so much to John,’” Jane said. “It just means so much to our family, and we’re so excited to remember what our boys meant to hockey.”
On Sunday they had front row seats to the United States men’s team’s first gold medal since 1980 and watched their son honored on the biggest stage.
