After Team USA’s gold medal victory in men’s hockey at the 2026 Olympics, the players invited late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau’s kids onto the ice to partake in the celebration.
Johnny Gaudreau’s light is still shining bright at the 2026 Olympics.
After Team USA defeated Team Canada 2-1 to earn a historic gold medal in men’s hockey during their Feb. 22 faceoff at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, several players honored the late NHL star—who was killed in a biking accident along with his brother Matthew Gaudreau in August 2024—with an emotional gesture to his family.
As the U.S. athletes celebrated their overtime victory, forward Dylan Larkin and defenseman Zach Werenski invited Johnny’s daughter Noa, 3, and son Johnny Jr., 2—whom he shared with wife Meredith Gaudreau—onto the ice to join in on the festivities and pose for photos with the team as they sported their medals.
The players also paid tribute to Johnny—who had been training to earn a spot on Team USA prior to his passing—by waving his No. 13 jersey as they skated around the rink. The moment appeared to be particularly poignant for his parents Jane Gaudreau and Guy Gaudreau, with the latter wiping tears as he stood in the stands alongside his wife and daughter-in-law.
Of course, honoring Johnny and his family was a no-brainer for Dylan, who highlighted the personal impact of his and Matthew’s death.
“Johnny and Matty should be here,” he told reporters after the game, per People, “and that is still the biggest loss that all of us at USA hockey, their families, our family, has gone through.”
But the 29-year-old found a heartwarming silver lining, theorizing that the late Columbus Blue Jackets winger may have had a hand in Team USA’s success on the ice.
“I think part of the puck not going in our net was somehow, that he’s standing there doing something,” he continued, joking that Johnny and Matthew had somehow “put a spell around our net where that puck didn’t go in.”
To see more unforgettable moments from the 2026 Olympic Games, keep reading…
Heartbreak on the Ice
U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn breaks down in tears after missing her triple loop jump during the women’s short program event.
Gloves Off
Tom Wilson of Canada scuffles with Pierre Crinon of France in a rare Olympic hockey fight.
Golden Moment
Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is visibly emotional after winning the country’s first-ever gold medal in Winter Olympic history at the men’s giant slalom event.
Across the Finish Line
As the first cross-country skier to represent to Haiti in Olympic history, Stevenson Savart collapses to thunderous applause after finishing the men’s 10km race.
Bello!
Spanish figure skater Tomas Guarino dresses up as a Minion for his Despicable Me-inspired short program.
Dog Day Afternoon
A dog wanders onto the track during the women’s team cross country free sprint qualifiers.
Canadian Chaps
Canadian curler Marc Kennedy watches his teammate Brad Jacobs apply lip balm during the men’s round robin match.
Slip Up
U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin, also known as “Quad God,” takes an uncharacteristic fall during the men’s single free skating competition, ultimately landing him in eighth place.
Head in the Game
German bobsledder Laura Nolte gears up before training for the monobob, the single-person bobsleigh event for women.
Victory Selfie
Following the women’s snowboard halfpipe competition, Korean snowboarder Gaon Choi poses for picture with Team USA’s Chloe Kim and Mitsuki Ono of Japan taken using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition.
From One Olympian to Another
Georgian figure skater Nika Egadze snaps a photo with Simone Biles, the most-decorated gymnast in Olympic history, during the men’s singles figure skating competition.
You’re on Candid Camera
A cameraman films U.S. skiers Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin hugging after the second run of the women’s team combined salom event.
A Small Gift
French biathlete Lou Jeanmonnot has some fun with plushies of Milan-Cortina Olympics mascots Milo and Tina, which she received as part of winning the silver medal in the women’s biathlon 15km individual event.
Thinking of Home
Skier Dmytro Shepiuk uses a sticky note to send love to his fellow Ukranians after finishing the men’s super-G event.
Scream and Shout
Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto is surprised by her score in the women’s singles free skating team event.
All the Emotions
Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam wipes tears from her eyes after learning she set an Olympic record in the women’s 1,000-meter race.
Big Air
China’s Eileen Gu competes in the women’s freestyle slopestyle—which earned her a silver medal.
With Him Always
U.S. skater Maxim Naumov holds a photo of his late parents close after competing in the men’s single skating short program.
Twists and Turns
A composite image shows off the many tricks seen in the women’s freestyle slopestyle.
Pierogi Power
Polish figure skater Ekaterina Kurakova holds up a plushie of a pierogi—widely considered to be Poland’s national food—as she celebrates with her teammates during the women’s single skating short program.
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane
No, it’s Team Austria’s ski jumper Julia Muehlbacher.
Double Trouble
Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp of Austria zoom by during the luge women’s doubles.
Say Cheese!
The winners of the figure skating team event snap a selfie with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition while on the podium.
Never Give Up
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn looks determined as she attends a training session days after rupturing her ACL in a crash.
Spin It to Win It
Alysa Liu of the United States performs the Biellmann spin during the women’s single skating short program event.
So Close
Team Great Britain’s Jennifer Dodds has a nail-biting reaction to the curling mixed doubles round robin match against South Korea.
Curl It Like It’s Hot
Snoop Dogg, serving as an Olympics correspondent for NBC, tries his hand at curling at a practice.
In Sync
U.S. figure skaters and real-life couple Evan Bates and Madison Chock are a perfect match while performing their rhythm ice dance routine.
On the B-rink of History
Laila Edwards, the first Black woman representing the U.S. in Olympic hockey, faces off against Czech player Sara Cajanova during the United States vs. Czech Republic game.
Friendship Knows No Borders
Australian snowboarder Valentino Guseli shares a hug with Team Czechia’s Jakub Hrones during the men’s snowboard big air qualifiers.