“They’re with us in spirit,” Team USA’s general manager, Bill Guerin, said in February about how Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew remain with the squad every step of the way, even from the afterlife. The former Blue Jackets winger was taken abruptly from his loved ones when a horrific car crash cut his life short last year. However, his family and colleagues haven’t forgotten how big a part he played in their lives. And now, some of Gaudreau’s former comrades are making sure the late NHL star’s family knows what he meant to them.

In September, at Johnny Gaudreau’s memorial service, his wife, Meredith, had revealed that she was nine weeks pregnant. After the news came to the fore, the NHL community banded together to keep an eye on the hockey celebrity’s spouse to make sure she didn’t face any trouble during these trying times. Then, on April 8, Meredith gave birth to her third child, seven months after Johnny’s passing. Soon, his former brothers-in-arms stepped forward to mark the occasion.

In her Instagram story from April 14, Johnny Gaudreau’s wife, Meredith, shared the special gift from the Calgary Flames that has arrived for the newborn. Captioned, “Carter’s first jersey!” the IG story shows Johnny’s youngest sporting the red and white stripes of his former club while watching the world around him from inside the safety of his mother’s embrace.

Johnny Gaudreau played for the Flames for nine seasons, racking up 609 points in 602 games. Naturally, it was a contribution to the team’s success that won’t be easily forgotten. And they noted their appreciation in style by sending the customized jersey for the young one, which also sports Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey number on the back. One hell of a gift to receive on your first week on the planet, huh?

“I love you so much my baby! We are going to have so much fun. I can’t wait to give you the best life, my special boy forever,” Meredith wrote in a social media post introducing her third kid to the world. Along with that, she thanked Johnny for leaving behind one of the best things of her life. What’s more, she also revealed that little Carter was born the exact size and weight as Gaudreau, his late father.

The NHL family is getting bigger and bigger. In January, Dallas star Tyler Seguin and his wife, Kate, also welcomed their first child together. Then, in March, Oilers’ Evander Kane also proudly announced the news of him becoming a girl dad. “Proud to Announce that Mara and I had our beautiful baby girl Penelope on March 4th,” Kane gleefully wrote on Instagram. But perhaps, baby Carter will be most excited to meet Tripp Matthew whom his aunty Madeline Gaudreau welcomed just three months ago.

All of these children will always be a big part of the NHL family. And yet, Johnny Gaudreau’s child just might have more people to show him the world, especially with the NHL star not being around to do it.

Team USA still has a place for Johnny Gaudreau

At the 4 Nations Face-Off held earlier this year, the memory of Johhny seemed to motivate Team USA to perform at its best. Before the first clash between the US and Canada at the inaugural international hockey tournament, Gaudreau was given a special shoutout by the team members in a special video. “USA Hockey is a family, Johnny was part of that family,” Jack Eichel said, while Brady Tkachuk later revealed that the squad hung up Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey in Brady’s locker room stall.

Justifiably, it was an emotional rollercoaster for Meredith, seeing how her late husband still vividly existed in his brethren’s memory. “Classy organization & group of people. John wanted to be a part of this so bad. Thank you for honoring him,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter) afterward. Brady Tkachuk also noted that it was the team’s determination to win the tournament as its way of honoring Gaudreau and his family. Such an intimate bond is what helps a team to achieve success, wouldn’t you agree?

So, now that little Carter already seems to have the NHL community looking out for him, do you think he will follow in his father’s footsteps in the future? Johnny’s brother, Matthew, was also a standout hockey player in Boston. Will their legacy be carried forward by Carter and Tripp? What do you foresee for young ones? Tell us in thee comments.