Team USA honors the late Johnny Gaudreau after winning first Olympic gold medal since 1980

"[Johnny is] on everybody's mind; we've had this jersey in the locker room before every game," Team USA captain Matthews said, per NHL.com's Christopher Detwiler. "So many guys on the team grew up with him and were close with him and here with us in spirit, it's awesome."

Johnny Gaudreau's family also attended Sunday's game. That included his widow, Meredith, and two of his three children, Johnny Jr. and Noa. Johnny Jr. was celebrating his second birthday. The team made sure to bring the birthday boy onto the ice after capturing the gold.

"It's fun to be a part of this," Meredith Gaudreau said before the Olympics. "We wished we were a part of it, so when we got the call to come out, it felt like maybe [Johnny] did make the team. 

"So it's fun here to represent him and support everyone who's honoring him as well."  

Johnny Gaudreau, who starred for the Columbus Blue Jackets, never had the opportunity to play at the Olympics. However, he totaled 43 points in 40 games representing the U.S. internationally, the most by an American man in IIHF history. 

Team USA capturing its first Olympic gold in hockey since 1980 is another excellent way to honor the player nicknamed "Johnny Hockey."