MONTREAL — Somewhere, up there in the heavens, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau will be watching and cheering when Team USA hits the ice Thursday at the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off.
“Johnny and Matthew were both a big part of USA Hockey,” general manager Bill Guerin said on Tuesday. “They’re with us in spirit.”
That’s why Guy Gaudreau, the father of the boys who were killed tragically last August by an alleged drunk driver while riding their bikes near their family home in New Jersey, was invited to be part of the team.
He was on the ice for the team photo that was taken before the club’s practice at the Bell Centre as they prepare to open the 4 Nations against Team Finland.
“I just think it was important to our team that he was here,” Guerin said. “We extended the invitation for him to be here and the coaches wanted him out for practice and in the team picture.
“He’s an amazing guy and we love having him around.”
It’s no accident that Johnny Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey is hanging in his stall in the American dressing room. A lot of the players on this team either had the chance to play with him over the years, got to know him or were close friends with the family.
“From our standpoint, it’s an honour to have Guy out there,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a terrific person. I didn’t know Guy at all until we met him here. The hockey world, in a lot of ways, is a small world and it’s a family.
“And, with respect to the United States hockey world, it’s very much a family. All of us feel a certain weight to support Guy and his family through a difficult time. His boys had such an impact on USA Hockey, and such an impact on hockey in general.
“To have Guy out as part of our coaching staff is a thrill for us. Certainly, we want to show him and offer him our support through a difficult time.”
Gaudreau was part of a group of special guests that had a chance to gather with the American team at a Montreal restaurant for a team dinner on Monday night after the club’s initial skate.
Mike Eruzione and Rob McLanahan, who were part of the Miracle on Ice by winning a gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, were on hand. Eruzione, 70, was the captain of the United States and scored the winning goal against the Soviet Union.
Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Modano, one of the best players from the United States to ever wear the sweater, joined the club.
“I just felt it was important, and (Sullivan) and I talked about this, for these players to meet some of the guys who have paved the way,” Guerin said. “It’s been discussed that this is a great generation of American-born players, but somebody always leads the pathway.
“I thought it was very important to connect the generations and for these guys to be able to meet some of the guys who paved the way. And, it was spectacular. They were great. They inter-mingled with the players. It was a nice dinner, a nice event and it was great to have those guys there.”
The players appreciated hearing the stories, some speeches and the experiences the past participants at events have had and the challenges that the Americans will face.
They were pleased to see Guy Gaudreau on hand.
“It means a lot,” USA captain Auston Matthews said. “A lot of the guys here were very close with the Gaudreau brothers and a lot of guys have played with them. The impact that they had and the tragedy that happened still weighs heavy on all of us.
“It’s nice to have (Guy) here and we’ve got Johnny’s jersey hanging in the room because we know that he’s here with us in spirit.”
Eruzione, McLanahan and Modano all made speeches to the group.
“The speeches were awesome,” winger Brady Tkachuk said. “There were just so many great stories and so much insight. There was a lot of motivation for the next generation. We just want to play hockey now, we have an opportunity in front of us and we’re very excited.
“You heard about each individual with their own experience about what it means to wear the U.S. logo and take pride that we have as American players. The one that stuck out to me was the impact that we can have on the next generation of kids.”
Some have wondered if the 4 Nations Face-Off will have the same meaning because this is the first time it has being done.
All you had to do was listen to how moved some of the players in the United States dressing room were by Guy Gaudreau’s appearance here to know this means a lot.