The USA men’s hockey team is set to face Canada in the gold-medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and they’re playing for the late Johnny Gaudreau, who was a key player on the team before his tragic death in 2024.
The USA men’s hockey team has made it to the gold-medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and they’re doing it for the late Johnny Gaudreau, who was a key player on the team before his tragic death in 2024. Gaudreau’s memory has been kept alive by the team, who have hung his No. 13 jersey in the locker room in Milan, Italy, where the Olympics are being held.
According to USA TODAY, the team’s staff has done a great job of keeping Gaudreau’s presence known throughout the tournament, and the players are motivated to win for him. “He was a friend, a teammate to a lot of these guys. And the fact that our team is celebrating him throughout this tournament just speaks volumes for the character of the person that Johnny was,” head coach Mike Sullivan said.
The Team’s Motivation
The team’s motivation to win for Gaudreau is evident, and they’re not just playing for themselves, but for their fallen teammate. “Our trainers really have … done a great job of hanging up Johnny’s jersey and keeping little reminders of him around in the room and with this group,” defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. “Everything … has always had a touch of winning it for him and I think his family will be in there saying the same thing right now. So I’m really excited that we get a chance to do that, not only for ourselves, but for him.”
Zach Werenski, who played with Gaudreau on the Columbus Blue Jackets, said his friend probably “would’ve been here” on the team, pointing to Gaudreau’s international resume. Gaudreau led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2013 world junior championships in Russia with seven goals, the most in the tournament. He took bronze with the U.S. men’s national team at the 2018 world championships in Denmark.
The Gold-Medal Game
The gold-medal game against Canada is set to be a thrilling match, and the USA men’s hockey team is ready to give it their all. An Olympic gold medal, the American men’s first since 1980, is on the line, and the team is motivated to win for Gaudreau. “I know how bad he wanted this,” Werenski said. “He played in a number of world championships hoping for an opportunity for best on best. … So it’s super special to see his jersey hanging and we’re playing for him and trying to make him proud.”
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