Days after the news broke that star hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matt had been killed while riding their bicycles, a memorial for the former Calgary Flames forward continues to grow outside the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Outside the arena where Calgary’s NHL team plays, a memorial features jerseys, flowers and an enormous stretch of concrete covered in tributes written in chalk to pay respect to the 31-year-old hockey player.
Whitney Mandel was just one of many people keeping vigil outside the Saddledome on Sunday. She had come after making the two-hour drive from Duchess, Alta.
“We had to come and say goodbye to Johnny,” she explained. “He was my whole 20s — watching Johnny play hockey.”
After completing a celebrated college hockey career, Gaudreau ascended to the NHL where he skated for the Flames for more than eight seasons and became a fan favourite. In 2022, he signed a contract to join the Columbus Blue Jackets, saying that he and his family wanted to be closer to relatives in New Jersey.
“It’s a lot, but it’s really important to come down and grieve together,” Jacqueline Cornett said while spending time at the Saddledome memorial on Sunday.
“It’s surreal,” Nick Haddow said while gazing at all the tributes written in chalk. “powerful.
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“I’m glad Calgary shows what Johnny meant to us.”
Gaudreau’s widow Meredith, who is also the mother of their children, posted about the Saddledome memorial on social media.
“Thank you Calgary,” she wrote.
“This is amazing. But I’m not surprised. The best people ever.”
The Gaudreau brothers were hit by a vehicle while riding their bicycles in New Jersey on Thursday night. Police said investigators suspect the driver of the vehicle was impaired. The collision occurred the night before the Guadreau brothers were to be groomsmen at their sister’s wedding.
In addition to tributes from the hockey community, more demonstrations of support for the Gaudreau family have unfolded at professional sporting events over the past few days.
On Monday afternoon, ahead of their marquee Labour Day CFL matchup against the Edmonton Elks, the Calgary Stampeders arranged for 13 seconds of silence at McMahon Stadium in honour of the late Gaudreau brothers. Johnny wore No. 13 for most of his NHL career.
Fans at the Stampeders football game shared memories of watching Johnny Gaudreau, the small forward who scored 776 points in 805 career NHL regular-season games.
“The kid brought us hope and he brought energy,” Rob Coppens said. “Just seeing him in his first game (as an NHL player), getting that first goal … Amazing.”
Several Stampeders players were seen arriving at McMahon Stadium wearing No. 13 shirts or jerseys ahead of their game against the Elks.
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Flames general manager Craig Conroy penned a touching tribute to the Gaudreau brothers that was posted on the hockey club’s website on Saturday.
“I had the privilege to have a front row seat to watch this young boy mature into a true NHL star but more importantly, to grow to be a wonderful man, son, husband, and father,” Conroy wrote in part.
“There isn’t a magic spell that will make us all feel better. But there is love that we can continue to share with the Gaudreaus that will play a part in helping them heal.
“The outpouring of social affection over the past 24 hours, helps. The organic vigil on the steps of the Saddledome, helps. And just as the Gaudreaus have shown us, being kind to one another, helps.”
The Flames posted an aerial photo taken of the Saddledome memorial to social media on Monday with a one-word caption: “speechless.”
— with files from The Associated Press
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