The family of late National Hockey League (NHL) players Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Team USA Hockey after receiving an invitation to the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Initially hesitant to attend, citing emotional difficulties, they ultimately viewed the opportunity as a “gift we didn’t know we needed.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Johnny-and-Matthew-Gaudreau-030126-df85a3505c7d47cf9763bf5226ba8017.jpg)
Johnny, aged 31, and Matthew, aged 29, tragically lost their lives in August 2024 when they were struck by an alleged drunk driver while cycling. The Gaudreau family, in a poignant message shared via social media platform X, reflected on their initial decision to decline the Olympics invitation. “We said no. It felt like more than we could handle. But we kept thinking about what John and Matty would say if they knew we turned it down. We knew the answer,” they wrote.
The family reminisced about Johnny’s aspiration to compete in the Olympics and his relentless training leading up to his untimely passing. They conveyed the emotional weight of attending the Games, acknowledging that watching events without the brothers was challenging. However, being in the presence of those who cherished Johnny and Matthew allowed them to create treasured memories during this difficult time.
Their experience was made even more special as they interacted with hockey players and fans who frequently asked about Johnny and Matthew. “Every person we encountered took the time to ask about the boys — who they were, what they meant to us, the kind of people they were away from the ice,” noted the family. They expressed how moving it was to realise the significant impact Johnny and Matthew had on many lives, extending beyond their immediate community.
Team USA Hockey’s victory during the Games further strengthened the emotional significance of the occasion for the Gaudreau family. They felt a deep sense of pride as the team included their sons’ memories and legacies in the celebrations following their gold medal win against Canada on February 22. In a touching moment, players Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski brought Johnny’s young children, daughter Noa and son Johnny Jr., onto the ice to commemorate their father.
Zach Werenski, a former teammate of Johnny on the Columbus Blue Jackets, described the feelings that permeated the team as they honoured their late friend. After the match, he conveyed the emotional weight of the celebration, stating, “It was good emotions. It was happy emotions. It was something John would’ve been at … We wanted to make him proud, and I think we did that.”
Johnny Gaudreau’s family concluded their heartfelt message with a note of appreciation. “Thank you to every member of that team for loving John & Matty – and for making sure they were part of something historic,” they expressed. They also extended their gratitude to NBC Olympics and USA Hockey for their kindness and generosity in bringing them to Milan.
The invitation and subsequent events have allowed the Gaudreau family to engage with the broader community of hockey enthusiasts while cherishing the memories of their beloved sons. The emotional support they received has underscored the lasting legacy Johnny and Matthew left behind, for both their family and the sport of hockey they so dearly loved.
As the Olympics approach, the Gaudreau family is set to embrace the spirit of the Games, honouring the memories of Johnny and Matthew while finding solace among a community that has rallied around them during their period of grief. Through their presence at the Olympics, they hope to continue celebrating the lives of two brothers whose passion for hockey inspired many, ensuring that their legacy lives on in both sport and spirit.