Calgary Flames fans joined in an outpouring of love and sorrow for the family of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau with a makeshift tribute at Scotiabank Saddledome.
NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed Thursday night when they were hit by a car while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey. Johnny was 31, Matthew was 29.
Affectionately known as 香蕉视频直播淛ohnny Hockey,香蕉视频直播� Johnny Gaudreau starred over parts of nine seasons with the Calgary Flames before joining the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022.
Flames fans laid out a team jersey and hat, while others stopped by to leave flowers and handwritten notes on the steps outside Calgary香蕉视频直播檚 home arena 香蕉视频直播� where Gaudreau became an NHL star.
香蕉视频直播淭hanks Johnny for making the Flames great again,香蕉视频直播� someone wrote.
Jeremiah Nudd, wearing a signed jersey with Gaudreau香蕉视频直播檚 No. 13 won in a raffle, said he was feeling raw as he came by to drop off a bouquet.
香蕉视频直播淚 didn香蕉视频直播檛 know Johnny, but this just feels different. I香蕉视频直播檝e never had a celebrity death or something like that impact me the way this has,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Nudd said he香蕉视频直播檚 been a lifelong Flames fan and remembered some 香蕉视频直播渄ark years香蕉视频直播� after longtime captain Jarome Iginla香蕉视频直播檚 departure in 2013.
香蕉视频直播淏ut when this little guy from Boston College came to Calgary, the future just looked so bright,香蕉视频直播� he said.
The hockey-crazed fan base also left bags of Skittles candy and bottles of purple Gatorade.
Gaudreau香蕉视频直播檚 father, Guy, famously threw Skittles on the ice to help teach him to skate. The purple Gatorade was a nod to a goal celebration between Gaudreau and his linemates.
Inside the Saddledome, the Flames projected a tribute on the jumbotron. An image of Gaudreau celebrating a goal was next to the words 香蕉视频直播淚n Loving Memory, Johnny Gaudreau, 1993-2024.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淐ompletely gutted. The world just lost one of the best. RIP Johnny,香蕉视频直播� Flames forward Blake Coleman, who played with Gaudreau during the 2021-22 season, said on social media.
香蕉视频直播淭rying to find the right words today is not easy,香蕉视频直播� added defenceman Rasmus Andersson with a picture of him with Gaudreau. 香蕉视频直播淵ou were a hell of a hockey player but it香蕉视频直播檚 the person Johnny that always is going to be with me, one of my closest friends.
香蕉视频直播淭here hasn香蕉视频直播檛 been a dry eye in the Andersson house today. We all love you Johnny.香蕉视频直播�
The two brothers were in Carneys Point, N.J., for their sister Katie香蕉视频直播檚 wedding scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia, at which they were to be groomsmen.
New Jersey State police said Friday the Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road when a man driving in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind, causing fatal injuries.
Police said the driver, Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto and jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility.
Johnny Gaudreau was a seven-time NHL all-star and a Hobey Baker Award winner as the top men香蕉视频直播檚 player in college hockey, despite being undersized at five-foot-nine and 180 pounds.
Longtime NHL executive Brian Burke, who was the Flames香蕉视频直播� president of hockey operations from 2013 to 2018, highlighted Gaudreau香蕉视频直播檚 passion for the game, and dedication to his family and the Calgary community.
香蕉视频直播淛ohnny was always the first to raise his hand to give back to the community. When we had any charity requests, we always knew he would say yes, without hesitation,香蕉视频直播� Burke wrote in a statement on social media. 香蕉视频直播淗is love of his family, friends, and alma matter was always apparent and was clearly the driving force in his life. What I will remember most was his happiness, enthusiasm, and kindness that radiated out through the locker room every day.香蕉视频直播�
Flames fan Kevin Smith, after giving a silent prayer at the Saddledome memorial, said Gaudreau香蕉视频直播檚 presence in the community converted him from a diehard Detroit Red Wings supporter.
香蕉视频直播淥f course he香蕉视频直播檚 a great hockey player,香蕉视频直播� Smith said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut just what he gave back to the community香蕉视频直播� That香蕉视频直播檚 what brought me to him.香蕉视频直播�
Gaudreau is survived by his wife, Meredith, and his children, Noa and Johnny.
The Tsuut香蕉视频直播檌na Nation, located southwest of Calgary, mourned the death of 香蕉视频直播渁n instant fan favourite.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淭suut香蕉视频直播檌na is in a state of shock at the news of the tragic deaths of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. It香蕉视频直播檚 no secret that most Tsuut香蕉视频直播檌na people are rabid hockey fans, and this news hits hard,香蕉视频直播� Tsuut香蕉视频直播檌na Chief Roy Whitney said in a statement.
香蕉视频直播淛ohnny was simply magical on the ice. I cannot remember another player with such skating skill and such mastery of the game, and yet with a gentle demeanour and humility.香蕉视频直播�
Former Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent, now the coach of the American Hockey League香蕉视频直播檚 Laval Rocket, said it was a privilege to get to know 香蕉视频直播渢he real Johnny Gaudreau 香蕉视频直播� the person behind the hockey player.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淗e was a humble and unassuming young man with extraordinary talent, who never sought to be in the spotlight,香蕉视频直播� Vincent said in a statement through the Montreal Canadiens. 香蕉视频直播淗is passion for the game and exceptional hockey sense allowed him to achieve greatness, yet he remained grounded and true to himself.香蕉视频直播�
Matthew Gaudreau played four seasons as a forward at Boston College, joining Johnny on the Eagles during the 2013-14 campaign. He went on to play professionally in the AHL and ECHL.
The tributes extended beyond the hockey world, with NBA star LeBron James, MLB star Mike Trout and politicians across Canada sending their condolences to the Gaudreau family.
香蕉视频直播淛ohnny Gaudreau may have come up from the States, but hockey fans in Calgary, and across Canada, will remember him as one of our own,香蕉视频直播� Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote.
One of Gaudreau香蕉视频直播檚 most memorable moments as a Flame came on May 15, 2022, when he scored the Game 7 overtime winner to help Calgary eliminate the Dallas Stars in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
香蕉视频直播淗is thousand-watt smile and infectious personality were matched only by his love for his family, friends, and those close to him,香蕉视频直播� said Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, GM of the Flames from 2014 to 2023.
香蕉视频直播淗e brought joy to everyone around him and to the many who never knew him but marvelled at his excellence on the ice.香蕉视频直播�
