Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

Pat McAfee Cried His Eyes Out After Emotional Olympic Moment

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Evan Tiwari | Last updated Feb 22, 2026 3:13 PM ET

While the United States men's hockey team's iconic win over Canada has brought a wave of jubilation across the USA, it has also triggered an emotional response among supporters as they remember former star Johnny Gaudreau.

American sports analyst Pat McAfee took to his X account to express his emotions, mentioning the Gaudreau family who were in attendance for the game. What made Team USA's 2-1 overtime win over Canada even more iconic and heartfelt was that the game coincided with the second birthday of Gaudreau's son, Johhny Gaudreau Jr.

Gaudreau's family, including his widow Meredith and son Johhny Gaudreau Jr., were in attendance for the U.S. games in Milan, with the former Columbus Blue Jackets player's No. 13 sweater hanging in the locker room for every game. His brother Matthew's No. 21 jersey was also hung on the wall, as Team USA paid tribute to the brothers, who were unfortunately killed by a suspected drunk driver in August 2024 while riding their bicycles just hours before their sister's wedding.

I’m crying my eyes out with the Gaudreau family moment#Sports #Together
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 22, 2026

The champions paid a touching tribute to the late hockey star and his brother Matthew, bringing Johnny's young children Noa and Johnny Jr. onto the ice. The kids held up Johnny's jersey for the Team USA group photo, in a emotional moment for the team, as Meredith, and the brothers' parents, Guy and Jane Gaudreau, looked on.

Johnny was preparing for selection and trials for the team when the 2024 incident took his life. Johnny, nicknamed 'Johnny Hockey', was an accomplished player who played as a winger in the NHL for 11 seasons. A seven-time NHL All-Star, Johnny finished fourth in Hart Memorial Trophy voting twice, in 2019 and 2022.

Matthew Gaudreau was working on building his career as a coach after a five-year career in the AHL, ECHL and Sweden. The brothers played together for the Boston College Eagles, and are revered as two of the most iconic ice hockey players to come out of New Jersey.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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