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Team USA had the full support of the Gaudreau family at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Johnny Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith Gaudreau, and his parents were spotted in the crowd during the men’s hockey semifinal matchup against Slovakia on Friday, February 20. (Team USA ultimately won the game, advancing to the gold medal championship round against Canada on Sunday, February 22.)
“You should be here, John, and I’m so sorry you aren’t,” Meredith wrote via her Instagram Stories later on Friday. “So proud of you and your legacy.”
Meredith also shared a sweet pic of daughter Noa, 3, decked out in Team USA gear and holding an American flag before the game in Milan, Italy. (In addition to Noa, Meredith and Johnny shared sons Johnny Jr., 2, and Carter, 10 months.)
Johnny, a forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets and a favorite for the 2026 Olympic hockey team, died in an August 2024 accident at the age of 31. Johnny and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, were struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver while riding their bikes before their sister Katie Gaudreau’s wedding in New Jersey.
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy,” the Ohio hockey team said in a statement at the time. “Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving father, son, brother and friend.”
The statement concluded, “We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Meredith, his children Noa and Johnny, his parents, their family and friends on the sudden death of Johnny and Matthew.”
Meredith, who started dating Johnny in 2018, broke her silence that same month.
“Thank you for the best years of my life. Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours. I love you so so much,” she wrote via Instagram in August 2024. “You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much, forever and ever.”
In a follow-up tribute, Meredith called Johnny “the absolute best dad in the world.”
“[He was] so caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with,” she wrote in a social media upload. “John never missed a single [doctors’] appointment. Was the best at putting the baby to sleep and the Apple of Noa’s eye. I love how much she looks like him. We are going to make you proud. We love you so so so much, Daddy.”
Meredith announced at Johnny and her brother-in-law Matthew’s funeral in September 2024 that she was pregnant with baby No. 3. She gave birth to son Carter in April 2025.
“Our third baby is here!” Meredith wrote via Instagram, announcing Carter’s arrival. “I love you so much my baby! We are going to have so much fun. I can’t wait to give you the best life, my special boy forever. John, thank you for giving me our beautiful family. We love u, Daddy and miss you so much.”
John is also survived by his parents and two sisters. Matthew, who died at 29, was married to wife Madeline Gaudreau, who gave birth to son Tripp after the brothers’ deaths.
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