USA Hockey Team Honors Son of Vermont Hockey Legend Guy Gaudreau with Historic World Championship Win
Johnny Gaudreau, a former standout at Boston College and a seven-time NHL All-Star with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, was killed in 2024 by an alleged drunk driver.
In a moment that will forever resonate in the heart of Vermont's hockey community, the United States men’s hockey team captured the 2025 IIHF World Hockey Championship with a thrilling 1-0 overtime victory over Switzerland on May 25 at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. The win, the USA's first standalone world championship title since 1933, was a triumph of grit and glory, but for Vermonters, it carried an even deeper significance. The team dedicated this historic achievement to Johnny Gaudreau, the son of Vermont hockey legend Guy Gaudreau, whose legacy as a player and beloved figure in USA Hockey was honored in a poignant tribute following the victory.
A Historic Victory with Vermont Roots
The USA’s path to gold was nothing short of extraordinary. Tage Thompson’s overtime goal sealed the 1-0 win, ending a 92-year drought for a standalone world championship title, as reported by NHL.com and NBC Sports. For Vermont, a state where hockey runs deep in the cultural fabric, the victory felt personal. Johnny Gaudreau, born in Salem, New Jersey, but forever tied to Vermont through his father, Guy, was a shining star in USA Hockey. His untimely death in a tragic car accident in August 2024, alongside his brother Matthew, left the hockey world reeling. Yet, in Stockholm, his spirit was front and center as the American team lifted the trophy.
Johnny, a former standout at Boston College and a seven-time NHL All-Star with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, represented the USA with distinction, earning gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship and bronze at the Worlds. His father, Guy Gaudreau, is a Vermont hockey icon, having starred at Norwich University before coaching at Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey, where he shaped Johnny and Matthew into NHL talents. Guy’s influence on Vermont hockey, from youth programs to his alma mater, has made him a revered figure in the Green Mountain State, and Johnny’s success was a point of pride for every rink from Burlington to Brattleboro.
The Emotional Tribute
As the final buzzer sounded and the USA celebrated, the team’s focus turned to honoring Johnny. During the trophy presentation, players held aloft a USA No. 13 jersey bearing Gaudreau’s name, a powerful gesture that moved fans and teammates alike. People.com reported that Zach Werenski, a defenseman and close friend of Johnny’s, emerged from the locker room clutching the jersey for victory photos, declaring, “No one deserves this gold medal more than him.” Goaltender Jeremy Swayman added, “This gold goes to him and the legacy that he’s paved,” while Brady Skjei noted, “To honor him in that way was amazing. Johnny was an amazing person.”
For Vermont, the image of that No. 13 jersey was a heart-wrenching reminder of Johnny’s connection to the state. Guy Gaudreau, who coached at the University of Vermont’s club hockey team and remains a fixture in local hockey circles, instilled in Johnny a love for the game that resonated with Vermont’s tight-knit hockey community. Social media posts from IIHF Instagram captured the moment, while Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny’s widow, shared an Instagram Story with the words “All for you,” as noted by Daily Mail. These tributes underscored the emotional weight of the moment, amplified by the recent birth of Johnny’s third child in April 2025, seven months after his passing, as reported by USA Today.
Vermont’s Pride in Johnny’s Legacy
In Vermont, where hockey rinks are community hubs and names like Gaudreau carry weight, the USA’s win and tribute stirred deep pride. Local coaches and players at rinks like Cairns Arena in South Burlington and Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington spoke of Johnny as an inspiration. “Guy’s a legend here, and Johnny was proof of what Vermont hockey can produce,” said Mike McKenzie, a youth coach in Colchester. “Seeing that jersey raised in Sweden felt like Johnny was skating with them.”
The tragedy of Johnny and Matthew’s deaths, detailed in Columbus Dispatch and New York Post reports about the August 2024 car crash involving an alleged drunk driver, has left a lasting mark on Vermont. Guy Gaudreau, who has remained private but supportive of memorial efforts, is seen as a pillar of resilience. The USA team’s gesture was a fitting tribute not only to Johnny but to the Gaudreau family’s contributions to hockey, from Guy’s days at Norwich to Johnny’s dazzling NHL career.
A Championship for the Ages
The 2025 IIHF World Championship win, detailed by CNN and Olympics.com as a “heartbreaking” loss for Switzerland and a triumph for the USA, was a testament to the team’s skill and determination. For Vermont, it was more—a celebration of Johnny Gaudreau’s legacy and the enduring impact of his father, Guy, on the state’s hockey culture. As the USA team stood on the world stage, holding up Johnny’s No. 13 jersey, they honored a son of Vermont whose light continues to shine in every pass, shot, and save.
In Stowe, where Guy once coached youth hockey, and in Montpelier, where fans gathered to watch the game, the sentiment was clear: this gold medal was for Johnny, for Guy, and for Vermont. As CBS News noted, the USA’s first world championship in 92 years was a moment of triumph and remembrance, a fitting tribute to a player who embodied the heart of hockey in the Green Mountain State.
Sources: NHL.com, People.com, CBS News, New York Post, Daily Mail, Columbus Dispatch, USA Today, FloHockey, NBC Sports, CNN, Olympics.com, IIHF Instagram.