Gold for ‘Johnny Hockey’: Team USA Honors Late Catholic Legend in Emotional Olympic Victory

February 23, 2026 by Kateri

Gold-medalist USA players pose during the medal ceremony of the men’s ice hockey event at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on Feb. 22. Joining the American team in the picture are two of the children of Johnny Gaudreau, a Catholic player who died in 2024.

As the nation celebrates its first Olympic hockey gold since 1980, the true victory wasn’t found in the box score, but in the small feet hitting the ice for the team photo.

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