Johnny Gaudreau’s wife talks Olympic hockey honor

The U.S. men’s hockey team honored the late Johnny Gaudreau throughout the Winter Olympics en route to an overtime gold medal victory over Canada.

Several team members carried Gaudreau’s jersey around the ice rink in Milan to honor the NHL star who was killed by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey in 2024. They also brought their two children to the field to take photos with the team.

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The players also chanted Gaudreau’s nickname “Johnny Hockey” at a Miami nightclub where they entertained Monday night. These are moments no player on the U.S. team will ever forget, and they meant a lot to Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, who watched them unfold.

“It meant the world to me,” he said Wednesday on “Fox & Friends.” “I’m really, really grateful to these guys for being really great friends, really great teammates. Just to include our kids and honor John the way they did, that’s all I could ask for right now. I think John would be so proud, so humbled. It’s really, really heartening that they respect him so much and continue to do that. It’s very touching.”

Johnny Gaudreau could make the U.S. men’s team, according to head coach Mike Sullivan.

Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the United States carries Noa Gaudreau after the men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Meredith Gaudreau said she would “thank them” for the team honoring her.

“I think he’s proud of them,” he said. “He brings his jersey with him every step of the way, making him a part of this. He really, really wanted to be a part of this. I think he’ll be very, very grateful to these guys and proud of them.”

He added that the outpouring of love and support has been truly special, especially from those who have never met him or his family.

Auston Matthews (34) of the USA, Zach Werenski (8) of the USA and Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the USA hold John Gaudreau’s jersey after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal match at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan Cortina at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan on February 22, 2026. (Amber Searls/Imagn Images)

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“Thank you for all your support,” he said. “All the messages. All the posts that people have made. I really read most of them, almost all of them. John’s influence moves me more and more every day. This is a testament to that. There’s no bigger stage than this Olympic stage. What does it feel like right now to see that he’s known worldwide and we have worldwide support. It definitely helps in our tough times.”

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