Team USA inspired by Gaudreau’s legacy as it enters Olympic semifinal

“It’s amazing,” defenseman Noah Hanifin said. “Johnny was close to a lot of guys in that room. You know he’d be here with us. We’ve been thinking about him and carrying him with us, so just excited to go out and keep winning and doing it for him.”

Johnny represented his country multiple times. He led the tournament with seven goals when the U.S. won gold at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia, and he helped the U.S. win bronze at the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Denmark.

He had 742 points (242 goals, 500 assists) in 763 games for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets from 2014-24.

From the start of 2014-15, his first full NHL season, though 2023-24, he ranked second among U.S.-born players to Patrick Kane, who had 791 points (293 goals, 498 assists) in 715 games for the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.

“Johnny Hockey,” as he was known, would have been 32 today.

“I would expect he would [have been on the Olympic team], with his body of work and how he participated for wearing the Team USA jersey on so many different levels,” Sullivan said. “He was one of America’s very best.”

The Gaudreau family posted a statement on social media Feb. 6 that said representing the U.S. at the Olympics was one of Johnny’s greatest dreams.