USA Hockey to honor Gaudreaus with helmet decal

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A helmet decal honoring the memory of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau will be worn by national teams at all levels this season, USA Hockey announced Thursday.

The decal features the Gaudreau name with the jersey numbers of Johnny (13) and Matthew (21) around a pair of hockey sticks.

Johnny Gaudreau played with the Columbus Blue Jackets the past two campaigns following eight-plus seasons with the Calgary Flames. He and his younger brother, Matthew — a hockey teammate at Boston College — were struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while riding bikes near their New Jersey hometown on Aug. 29.

“Johnny and Matthew, along with their families, will forever be a part of the USA Hockey family,” Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey, said in a statement. “This is a small way to not only honor their memory, but help keep their wonderful spirit for our great game and life in general in the forefront.”

In addition, two teams that are part of USA Hockey’s national team development program and the men’s and women’s sled teams also will wear the decal on their helmets.

Johnny captured a gold medal with Team USA at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship and competed at four IIHF Men’s World Championships.

–Field Level Media