The victory was historic, but the celebration was legendary. As the American flag rose to the rafters, the focus wasn’t just on the medals, but on the two small children wearing oversized jerseys labeled “GAUDREAU 13.”

In a display of pure heart that transcended the sport, Team USA invited the children of the late Johnny Gaudreau onto the ice following their Gold Medal win at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The sight of the players—many of whom grew up playing alongside “Johnny Hockey”—skating with his children while passing around the gold medals provided the most tear-jerking image of the Games.

“We played for him every single shift,” said the team captain during the post-game interview, his voice cracking. “Johnny was supposed to be here with us. Having his kids on the ice… it felt like he finally was.”