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 91裸聊视频淛ohnny Hockey,91裸聊视频� 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 Calgary91裸聊视频檚 home arena 91裸聊视频� where Gaudreau became an NHL star.
91裸聊视频淭hanks Johnny for making the Flames great again,91裸聊视频� someone wrote.
Jeremiah Nudd, wearing a signed jersey with Gaudreau91裸聊视频檚 No. 13 won in a raffle, said he was feeling raw as he came by to drop off a bouquet.
91裸聊视频淚 didn91裸聊视频檛 know Johnny, but this just feels different. I91裸聊视频檝e never had a celebrity death or something like that impact me the way this has,91裸聊视频� he said.
Nudd said he91裸聊视频檚 been a lifelong Flames fan and remembered some 91裸聊视频渄ark years91裸聊视频� after longtime captain Jarome Iginla91裸聊视频檚 departure in 2013.
91裸聊视频淏ut when this little guy from Boston College came to Calgary, the future just looked so bright,91裸聊视频� he said.
The hockey-crazed fan base also left bags of Skittles candy and bottles of purple Gatorade.
Gaudreau91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频淚n Loving Memory, Johnny Gaudreau, 1993-2024.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淐ompletely gutted. The world just lost one of the best. RIP Johnny,91裸聊视频� Flames forward Blake Coleman, who played with Gaudreau during the 2021-22 season, said on social media.
91裸聊视频淭rying to find the right words today is not easy,91裸聊视频� added defenceman Rasmus Andersson with a picture of him with Gaudreau. 91裸聊视频淵ou were a hell of a hockey player but it91裸聊视频檚 the person Johnny that always is going to be with me, one of my closest friends.
91裸聊视频淭here hasn91裸聊视频檛 been a dry eye in the Andersson house today. We all love you Johnny.91裸聊视频�
The two brothers were in Carneys Point, N.J., for their sister Katie91裸聊视频檚 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 men91裸聊视频檚 player in college hockey, despite being undersized at five-foot-nine and 180 pounds.
Longtime NHL executive Brian Burke, who was the Flames91裸聊视频� president of hockey operations from 2013 to 2018, highlighted Gaudreau91裸聊视频檚 passion for the game, and dedication to his family and the Calgary community.
91裸聊视频淛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,91裸聊视频� Burke wrote in a statement on social media. 91裸聊视频淗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.91裸聊视频�
Flames fan Kevin Smith, after giving a silent prayer at the Saddledome memorial, said Gaudreau91裸聊视频檚 presence in the community converted him from a diehard Detroit Red Wings supporter.
91裸聊视频淥f course he91裸聊视频檚 a great hockey player,91裸聊视频� Smith said. 91裸聊视频淏ut just what he gave back to the community91裸聊视频� That91裸聊视频檚 what brought me to him.91裸聊视频�
Gaudreau is survived by his wife, Meredith, and his children, Noa and Johnny.
The Tsuut91裸聊视频檌na Nation, located southwest of Calgary, mourned the death of 91裸聊视频渁n instant fan favourite.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭suut91裸聊视频檌na is in a state of shock at the news of the tragic deaths of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. It91裸聊视频檚 no secret that most Tsuut91裸聊视频檌na people are rabid hockey fans, and this news hits hard,91裸聊视频� Tsuut91裸聊视频檌na Chief Roy Whitney said in a statement.
91裸聊视频淛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.91裸聊视频�
Former Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent, now the coach of the American Hockey League91裸聊视频檚 Laval Rocket, said it was a privilege to get to know 91裸聊视频渢he real Johnny Gaudreau 91裸聊视频� the person behind the hockey player.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淗e was a humble and unassuming young man with extraordinary talent, who never sought to be in the spotlight,91裸聊视频� Vincent said in a statement through the Montreal Canadiens. 91裸聊视频淗is passion for the game and exceptional hockey sense allowed him to achieve greatness, yet he remained grounded and true to himself.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淛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,91裸聊视频� Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote.
One of Gaudreau91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淗is thousand-watt smile and infectious personality were matched only by his love for his family, friends, and those close to him,91裸聊视频� said Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, GM of the Flames from 2014 to 2023.
91裸聊视频淗e brought joy to everyone around him and to the many who never knew him but marvelled at his excellence on the ice.91裸聊视频�
