Johnny Gaudreau will always be remembered on the ice.

The late NHL player—who, along with his brother Matthew Gaudreau, was killed in a biking accident in August 2024—was honored at the 2026 Olympics by Team USA after their historic win, with men’s hockey forward Dylan Larkin and defenseman Zach Werenski showing off Johnny’s jersey before bringing his kids Noa, 3, and Johnny Jr., 2, onto the ice for the celebration. 

“They didn’t have to do that,” Johnny’s widow Meredith Gaudreau told ABC News Live Feb. 24. “It seemed like as soon as the game was over and they won the game, it was almost like the first thing they did was grab John’s jersey and skate around with his jersey. They wanted to bring my kids out on the ice for a photo.” 

“I was so thankful for that,” she continued. “I was just very, very proud. I’m very thankful to them for including my kids in it and just honoring my husband the way they do. It’s the classiest thing. They do all these really kind gestures and include our kids in everything because I know that’s exactly what John would want.”