Zach Werenski, Auston Matthews & Matthew Tkachuk doing a lap with Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey after winning Gold for Team USA is incredibly touching 💞
“We felt like he was with us in spirit,” Matthews told TSN’s Ryan Rishaug after the game. “Having his jersey up there meant a lot, a lot of guys on this team grew up with him, played with him in Boston, and he had a big impact on a lot of guys. So, it’s awesome to have his family here, and to have his boys there in the picture with everybody and be able to celebrate that. We’re thinking about him, he definitely played a big part in a lot of guys lives.”
Gaudreau, who was killed in August 2024 after he and his brother, Matthew, were struck by a drunk driver while cycling on a road in Salem County, New Jersey, was an instrumental part of USA Hockey during his career.
USA opened the scoring early after a breakaway goal from Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy, before Canada evened things up in the second period after a goal from Colorado Avalanche forward Cale Makar. The third period was sheer chaos, featuring several crucial missed chances from Canada, a 4-minute power play for USA that Canada killed off, and an ensuing USA penalty that they killed off near the end of the period. In the end, New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes scored the golden goal in 3-on-3 overtime to clinch the gold medal.
“It feels good, it feels real good,” Matthews said. “It’s incredible, I don’t even know what to say. Special group of guys. This is the goal, you want to to put yourself in a position to do something like this, and it’s been a long time for the US. I just couldn’t be happier.”
The United States and Canada were the only two undefeated teams remaining, with USA defeating Sweden in the quarter-finals before dismantling Slovakia in the semi-finals and eventually taking the gold medal game against Canada.