Johnny Gaudreau's Family Cheer on U.S. Men's Hockey Team at First Olympics Since NHL Star's Death

Johnny Gaudreau 's family is still cheering for him and Team USA, a year and a half after his death. Gaudreau's wife, Meredith , was in the stands at the 2026 Winter Olympics to root for the U.S. men's hockey team in their semifinal game against Slovakia on Friday, Feb. 20 alongside their 3-year-old daughter Noa and his parents, Jane and Guy Gaudreau. Johnny would be playing for the U.S. team at the Olympics if not for his death in August 2024 at age 31 alongside his younger brother Matthew. The brothers were biking in their New Jersey hometown the night before their sister's wedding when they were struck by an alleged drunk driver and killed. In the months since, the NHL community has rallied around the Gaudreau family, with special tributes to the late star from his former teams and support for his three children. Along with Noa, Johnny and Meredith are parents to sons John, 2, and Carter, who was born in March 2025 , seven months after his dad's death. The players, too, have shown their love for Johnny, especially at tournaments where he would have played for Team USA. At the 4 Nations tournament last year, Johnny's No. 13 jersey was hung in a locker stall, and they did the same this Olympics. It "was one of his greatest dreams" to play for Team USA at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, his family said in a statement the day of the opening ceremony. "In that final summer, John was training harder than ever, with his dad, pushing himself to be in the best shape of his life. He was determined to earn his spot on that Olympic roster," they wrote. "While it breaks our hearts that John won’t be there to live out that dream, we know he will be so very present with Team USA and all of his close friends competing throughout these games." They continued: "Though the Olympics will be bittersweet for our family, we find comfort knowing that in the hearts of his teammates, friends, and everyone who loved watching him play, John will be right there. Go Team USA. We know John and Matty are watching with pride." Johnny's former teammate on the Columbus Blue Jackets, Zach Werenski, said it's "incredible" having the late star's jersey in the Team USA locker room at the Olympics. "Just to honor his memory and his legacy, I think it’s super important for our group and it’s super special for us. It gives me chills," Werenski, 28, said, in a video for USA Hockey. "He’s a guy that was USA Hockey. He went to all the World Championships. He’s a guy that would’ve been at the 4 Nations. He would’ve been on this team. He really embraced what it meant to be a USA Hockey player. And I think every time I see that, I realize the importance of it. I don’t take moments like this for granted." Team captain Auston Matthews added that they're "for sure" playing for "Johnny Hockey" at the Olympics. "I think that’s definitely a guy a lot of us will be playing for." The U.S. men's team won their semifinal against Slovakia on Friday with a score of 6-2, and will now face their rivals Canada in the gold medal game on Sunday. To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.