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Gaudreaus support U.S. at Milano Cortina 2026: 'It gives me chills'
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- Gaudreaus support U.S. at Milano Cortina 2026: 'It gives me chills'
Late Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau enjoyed wagering on sporting events with his teammates, but anything featuring the United States vs. Canada drew extra attention.
More: How to watch Zach Werenski play for gold at Milano Cortina 2026
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Gaudreau, a longtime USA Hockey player , never missed a chance to raise the stakes with his Canadian friends, including Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan .
"It was with everything," Monahan said. "I'd be getting a text whenever it would be. It'd be mid-summer, and he'd be asking me if I wanted to take Canada in soccer, and the U.S. would be a heavy favorite. We'd go at it a decent amount. It was all for fun, obviously, but that's something I definitely miss."
Gaudreau, a Blue Jackets star, and his younger brother, Matthew, were killed by an alleged drunk driver Aug. 29, 2024 while riding bikes in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. The tragedy occurred a few weeks before the Blue Jackets opened training camp for the 2024-25 season, and they've embraced the Gaudreau family ever since.
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Johnny's No. 13 jersey hangs in the Jackets' locker room each game; the postgame player-of-the-game donkey hat award is an ode to his sense of humor; a No. 13 banner hangs at Nationwide Arena; and his teammates don't go a day without sharing a memory about him.
It's similar for USA Hockey, which has honored Gaudreau with its national teams since the tragedy. That includes the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics , where Johnny Gaudreau 's No. 13 jersey will again hang in the U.S. locker room before a rivalry showdown Feb. 22 against Canada for the gold medal.
Blue Jackets left wing Johnny Gaudreau smiles at his daughter, Noa, before a 2023 game against the Seattle Kraken at Nationwide Arena.
Team USA even went a step further prior to a Feb. 20 semifinal victory over Slovakia, bringing in members of the Gaudreau family to watch the U.S. play in the medal rounds. Guy and Jane, parents of the Gaudreau brothers, are joined in Milan, Italy by Johnny's wife, Meredith, and the oldest two of their three children, Noa and Johnny.
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The importance of their presence didn't go unrecognized by the U.S. team, including Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski .
"It gives me chills," Werenski said in a USA Hockey video clip posted on social media. "He's a guy that was USA Hockey. He went to all the world championships. He would've been at the 4 Nations (Face-Off). He would've been on this team. He really embraced what it meant to be a USA Hockey player, and every time I see that, I realize the importance of it, and I don't take moments like this for granted."
The Gaudreau family leads the Columbus Blue Jackets as they walk to Ohio Stadium prior to the NHL Stadium Series game against the Detroit Red Wings on March 1, 2025.
Werenski honored Gaudreau in May 2025 after helping the U.S. end a 92-year gold medal drought at the men's world championships in Stockholm, Sweden. After Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson scored the winning goal in overtime, Werenski jogged back to the locker room to grab Gaudreau's jersey, which was draped over the championship trophy in a postgame celebration.
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Expect a reprise of that scenario if the No. 2 seed U.S. team downs No. 1 seed Canada with the Gaudreau family in the arena.
"We knew they were going over, and you know what … it's where they should be," Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner said. "Johnny played for the U.S. in how many different tournaments? I remember playing against him in the World Juniors (for Canada), and he tore us apart there playing for the U.S. and did after that at the world championships. There's no doubt he'd be on this team, so that's where they should be."
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 20: Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States skates with the puck in the first period during the Men's Semifinals Playoff match between the United States and Slovakia on day fourteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Monahan and defenseman Erik Gudbranson , who each played with Gaudreau in Calgary , shared similar sentiments after the Jackets' practice Feb. 21 at the Ice Haus.
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"He was very near and dear to USA Hockey, for sure," Gudbranson said. "I mean, how many smaller-end guys are playing in the National Hockey League nowadays because of Johnny Gaudreau? He inspired so many people to play the game and play the game the way he did."
Gaudreau's style is reflected in the U.S. roster by Quinn and Jack Hughes , two brothers who overcome their slight builds to excel through elite skating ability, vision and skill. Watching them scoot around the ice might give the Gaudreaus some welcome flashbacks, if not chills.
"It's great that USA Hockey did that for them," Monahan said. "Meredith's a trooper for getting the kids on the plane and getting them down there. I did my first flight [with my son], and I know what it's like. But it's a special moment for the family. You carry on that legacy, and Johnny and Matty's name forever."
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Family of Gaudreaus supports Team USA hockey at 2026 Winter Olympics
