Johnny Gaudreau jersey, family on the ice for Team USA gold medal celebration
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Johnny Gaudreau jersey, family on the ice for Team USA gold medal celebration
Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch·The Columbus Dispatch
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1 min read
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Johnny Gaudreau's No. 13 jersey for the United States made its way from the locker room to a postgame gold medal celebration for the second time in nine months,proudly displayedby the U.S. after a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Canada on Feb. 22 at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The sweater had hung in a stall during the tournament as a memorial to the star, who died Aug. 29, 2024, along with his brother, Matthew, when they were struck by analleged drunk driverwhile they biked in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.
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MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau celebrate after the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Elsa, Getty Images)
US team members stand with the jersey number 13 of late US ice hockey player Johnny Gaudreau the medal ceremony after winning the men's gold medal ice hockey match between Canada and USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on February 22, 2026. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew died in August 2024 after they were struck by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey. (Photo by Antonin THUILLIER / AFP via Getty Images)
(ANTONIN THUILLIER, AFP via Getty Images)
Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; United States players celebrate with a team photo while holding the jersey of Johnny Gaudreau after defeating Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
(Geoff Burke, Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Meredith Gaudreau walks in the stands after the United States won the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
(James Lang, James Lang-Imagn Images)
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: (L-R) Jeremy Swayman #1, Jackson LaCombe #2, Brady Tkachuk #7 and Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States hold the shirt of late Johnny Gaudreau while participating in the national anthem during the medal ceremony following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Zach Werenski (left) and Jack Hughes of the United States celebrate after winning the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
(James Lang, James Lang-Imagn Images)
Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; The United States celebrates after winning the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
(James Lang, James Lang-Imagn Images)
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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau celebrate after the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Elsa, Getty Images)
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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau celebrate after the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Elsa, Getty Images)
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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win
US team members stand with the jersey number 13 of late US ice hockey player Johnny Gaudreau the medal ceremony after winning the men's gold medal ice hockey match between Canada and USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on February 22, 2026. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew died in August 2024 after they were struck by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey. (Photo by Antonin THUILLIER / AFP via Getty Images)
(ANTONIN THUILLIER, AFP via Getty Images)
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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win
Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; United States players celebrate with a team photo while holding the jersey of Johnny Gaudreau after defeating Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
(Geoff Burke, Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win
Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Meredith Gaudreau walks in the stands after the United States won the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
(James Lang, James Lang-Imagn Images)
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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: (L-R) Jeremy Swayman #1, Jackson LaCombe #2, Brady Tkachuk #7 and Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States hold the shirt of late Johnny Gaudreau while participating in the national anthem during the medal ceremony following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win
Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Zach Werenski (left) and Jack Hughes of the United States celebrate after winning the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
(James Lang, James Lang-Imagn Images)
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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win
Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; The United States celebrates after winning the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
(James Lang, James Lang-Imagn Images)
Following the winning goalset up by Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski,the U.S. retrieved Gaudreau's jersey while members of his family watched from the stands at Milano Santagiulia Arena in Milan, Italy. Those family members included Gaudreau's 3-year-old daughter Noa and son Johnny, who was celebrating his second birthday.
After the medal ceremony, members of Team USA skated over to Gaudreau's widow, Meredith, and brought the two children over for a photo with the team.
Werenski, Gaudreau's friend and teammate with the Blue Jackets, similarly celebrated an overtime victory for goldwith the No. 13 jerseyin May 2025 at the men's world championships.
