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5 Fascinating Facts About Johnny Gaudreau and His Family

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Feb 23, 2026 12:18 PM ET

After Team USA won the gold medal game, one moment that touched spectators was when the American team members brought Johnny (also known as Johnny Hockey) Gaudreau’s jersey into the circle and lifted it as if he were still there. Then his children came out on the ice a little later.

And because the Gaudreau family has always been a big part of who Johnny was, it feels worth taking a moment to look at them as a small way to appreciate the relationships around him.

Here are 13 fascinating facts (his jersey number) about Johnny Hockey and his family.

Gaudreau Made Being a Small Player Not a Big Deal

There were smaller players in the NHL. Theo Fleury, Martin St. Louis, Brad Marchand, and others had somewhat normalized the idea that the NHL was no longer only a big man’s game. Gaudreau felt like he was on a different level in terms of skill and size.

He was one of the smallest players to thrive in the modern NHL — at just 5’9″ (175 cm) and around 163 lbs (74 kg). Gaudreau proved size doesn’t limit elite skill. He became a seven-time NHL All-Star, twice finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting (MVP), and helped inspire a new generation of smaller players (like Cole Caufield, who not coincidentally now wears Gaudreau’s No. 13 number out of respect.

Where Did His Nickname Come From?

The iconic “Johnny Hockey” nickname originated in college and was trademarked. It was inspired partly by another smaller athlete. At the time, the “Johnny Manziel/Johnny Football” trend had taken over sports. Gaudreau ran with the idea.

In January 2015, Gaudreau filed a trademark to protect it.

Gaudreau Was An Afterthought When Drafted to the NHL

Selected in the fourth round (104th overall) by the Calgary Flames in 2011, Gaudreau was passed over in the first three rounds of the NHL draft that year. It didn’t take him long to make the Flames look like geniuses.

In his first full NHL season (2014-15), he scored 24 goals and 64 points as a rookie. He went on to post career highs like 40 goals and 115 points in 2021-22. He also had several other successful seasons, becoming a highly coveted free agent, who shocked everyone when he signed with the Blue Jackets in 2022.

His Team USA Contributions

There’s a reason Team USA honored Gaudreau on Sunday. Although he never got to compete in the Winter Olympics (due to NHL non-participation in 2018 and 2022), Johnny Hockey was a key part of Team USA, winning gold at the 2013 World Juniors and starring in multiple World Championships.

Gaudreau’s international resume would have made him a lock for the 2026 Olympic roster. He played in five tournaments and 40 games total. He amassed 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists)—the all-time record for any American player in IIHF World Championship history.

Gaudreau and Meredith Met At Her Sister’s Birthday Party

Johnny and Meredith first crossed paths in the summer of 2018 in Avalon, New Jersey, where Johnny spent his off-seasons. According to a report, Meredith lived nearby, and they met at a local bar during her sister Tyler’s birthday.

Johnny’s quiet charm caught her attention. She later YouTubed “Johnny Gaudreau hockey” to learn who he was—realizing he was a star in Calgary. They didn’t share their relationship with many people at first, with her secretly driving to Philadelphia for shifts and spending days exploring Avalon with him on bikes and beach outings.

Johnny Married Meredith in 2021

Engaged on August 29, 2020, they got married on September 4, 2021, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They immediately started their family.

Their daughter Noa was born in 2022. Johnny Jr. was born in early 2024. After Johnny passed away in August, 2024, Meredith gave birth to their third child, Carter, in April 2025.

Meredith Has a Master’s in Pediatric Nursing

Meredith is a Pennsylvania native who earned her bachelor’s degree from the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, then pursued further studies at James Madison University before completing a Master’s in Pediatric Nursing.

She Had Just Told Him About Their Third Child

Meredith Gaudreau revealed that the brothers’ death on Aug. 29, 2024 came a week after she told her Johnny she was secretly pregnant with their third child Carter is now 10 months old. She revealed in a letter to him after his passing:

“In my head I couldn’t believe we were about to have three kids under 3. It seemed like so much for us to handle. I was scared,” she wrote. “But your face, John. Your face in that moment told me all I needed to know: that it was going to be OK. That we were going to be the best little team ever.”

When Meredith announced that she was pregnant at Johnny’s memorial service in September 2024, it caught everyone off guard.

Meredith Has Carried Johnny’s Legacy

If you’ve watched Meredith relate to others, you know she’s handled everything with heart. She’s shown up at Columbus Blue Jackets games, events, fundraisers and more. Alongside Johnny and Matthew’s mother and father, they’ve all tried to carry on his name with the respect and honor he deserves.

Before the USA-Canada gold medal game, she posted about the date. February 22, the date of the gold medal game was also their son Johnny Jr.’s birthday. Little touches like these keep Johnny close without ever feeling forced.

Caufield Paid Tribute to Gaudreau With Jersey Swap

Cole Caufield switched his jersey number from 22 to 13 with the Montreal Canadiens starting in the 2024-25 season. It was a heartfelt tribute to his childhood idol and inspiration. Caufield had previously worn #13 earlier in his career and specifically because of Gaudreau.

In his Instagram announcement, he wrote: “I wore #13 at a point in my career because of Johnny and now I will be wearing it again to honor him.”

https://www.instagram.com/colecaufield/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=1a76f125-6a0f-4e47-a70b-70bec0e693f2

Well-Documented Closeness Between the Gaudreau Family and Sean Monahan’s Family

Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan were best friends and longtime teammates, starting with the Calgary Flames, and then eventually the Columbus Blue Jackets. Their families grew extremely close, especially after Sean joined Columbus in 2024 and lived just two doors down from Johnny and Meredith in New Albany.

Post-tragedy, Sean and his wife Brittany have supported Meredith and the Gaudreau kids with regular playdates for Leo, Noa, Johnny Jr., and Carter. Meredith has publicly praised Sean, including surprising him with the Masterton Trophy in 2025, calling him Johnny’s biggest fan.

Johnny’s Kids Were Part of the Gold-Medal Celebration

When Team USA won gold, the players brought Johnny’s children right onto the ice. They were the first family members to celebrate with the team. Meredith was crying in the stands while Team USA players hugged the little ones. She said in an interview with NHL.com that she was invited and being there felt, in one small way, like Gaudreau was part of that gold medal team.

Matthew Tkachuk Is a Prominent “Uncle” Figure

Like with Sean Monahan, the NHL is not far off from being one big “family”. Matthew Tkachuk was front and center on Sunday with the kids, and he has rallied around Meredith and the family since Johnny’s passing. Tkachuk is widely seen as prominent “uncle” figure.

Tkachuk helped carry Johnny’s No. 13 jersey around the ice with teammates, and photos show him sharing tender moments with daughter Noa. Tkachuk and Gaudreau were once seen as the faces of the Flames, two stars that were set to change the fortunes of that franchise.

A Closing Thought About Johnny Hockey

Johnny Gaudreau was “Johnny Hockey.” But watching the tribute in Italy made it clear his real legacy lives in his family and his relationships with his teammates. Both will carry his name with love. The children probably won’t remember the game, but one day they’ll know exactly why everyone reached for them after it.

That memory will say more about Johnny than any stat line ever could.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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