Zach Werenski and Dylan Larkin brought Gaudreau’s kids Noa and Johnny Jr. on the ice for the team picture after their win

Players of Team United States pose for photographs 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)

Johnny Gaudreau’s daughter Noa and son Johnny Jr. pose with Team USA after Olympic gold.Credit : Gregory Shamus/Getty

 

Johnny Gaudreau was on Team USA’s minds as they celebrated their Olympic gold.

The players made a point to bring the late NHL star into the festivities after they beat rival Canada to win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 22. As the team posed for photos on the ice with their medals, forward Dylan Larkin and defenseman Zach Werenski brought over Gaudreau’s daughter Noa, 3, and son Johnny Jr., 2.

Larkin smiled alongside Johnny Jr. — who turned 2 on Sunday — while holding up Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey, and Werenski held a grinning Noa.

Gaudreau’s wife Meredith brought the kids to the game, alongside his parents Jane and Guy Gaudreau. Guy was seen crying after Jack Hughes won the game in overtime for Team USA.

Johnny, who died at age 31 along with his brother Matthew, 29, when they were struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver the night before their sister’s wedding in Aug. 2024, was expected to make the U.S. Olympic team, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Players of Team United States pose for photographs 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)

Zach Werenski holds Johnny Gaudreau’s daughter Noa.Gregory Shamus/Getty

Winning and getting the chance to honor Johnny “was emotional,” Werenski, who was Johnny’s former teammate on the Columbus Blue Jackets, told reporters, including PEOPLE, after the game.

“It was good emotions. It was happy emotions. It was something John would’ve been at, and to have his jersey out there for all the fans, for all the people to see… His family was in the crowd. We brought his kids on the ice for the picture, I mean, it was just incredible. We wanted to make him proud, and I think we did that.”

Defenseman Jake Sanderson, who played with Johnny on Team USA at World Championships, added, “To get his kids on the ice for that team picture, it’s pretty emotional to get his jersey. This win is for him and his family.”

Ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, in which the late NHL star would likely have played for Team USA, his family issued a statement on what this year’s Games mean to them and to Johnny’s memory. Playing in the Milan Cortina Olympics alongside his fellow NHL players “was one of his greatest dreams,” Johnny’s 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.”