Fans of the Calgary Flames are mourning alongside the rest of the hockey world Friday following the news that Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed while biking in New Jersey by a suspected drunk driver.
All the lights are on inside Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome as a memorial plays on the screen of the jumbotron following confirmation of the news.
Outside the arena, fans are showing up on the Saddledome steps to pay tribute to the beloved ‘Johnny Hockey’ who played with the Flames for the first nine seasons of his career.
A young fan came to pay his respects, bringing a letter addressed to Gaudreau, which said in part, “Thanks Johnny for making the Flames great again.”
A 13-year-old boy pays tribute to former Flames player Johnny Gaudreau on the steps of the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (Phoenix Phillips, CityNews image)
A letter left by a 13-year-old boy to pay tribute to former Flames player Johnny Gaudreau on the steps of the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (Phoenix Phillips, CityNews image)
A father brought his three young sons to the Dome to say goodbye to Gaudreau, saying he was their hero.
“They’ve looked up to him since he started playing for the Flames,” he told CityNews. “He means a lot to the community, he means a lot to the hockey world, to Team USA, Team North America, Boston College.
“He’s a great hockey player, great role model for all the kids — small guy, late draft pick, NHL superstar — gone too young.”
The boys brought their own mementos to the memorial, setting them down in amongst flowers, jerseys, Gatorade, and Skittles.
This fan says he has a lot of respect for how Gaudreau conducted himself on the ice.
“You could tell by the way he played, he was extremely humble,” he said. “He would always look to pass first, you really respect a player like that. As a hockey player and a hockey fan, I would say it’s heartbreaking.”
Ernie Tsu, who owns Trolley 5 along Calgary’s Red Mile, says he is devastated.
“He was so great to the city. Not just the hockey side, but he took part in a lot of our community charities and made that time,” he said. “So, it’s very heartbreaking.”
A woman came to the Saddledome to pay her respects, saying she felt it was important to honour the Gaudreau brothers.
“The only nice thing is the two brothers are together,” she said. “But, my heart just breaks — he still is a part of the Flames family, but he was here for so long and I think of Monahan and I was so excited that they were going to be reunited in Columbus and to not get that is just — 31 years old is just far too young.”
Just days ago, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced the signing of centre Sean Monahan, who played alongside Gaudreau with the Flames for nine seasons.
During their time together in Calgary, the pair factored on the same goal 234 times, according to NHL Public Relations. Gaudreau and Monahan are also considered to be close friends.
Sportsnet960’s Pat Steinburg remembers Gaudreau for his humility.
“Johnny Gaudreau could walk into any restaurant or any establishment anywhere in the city and everybody would know who he was,” he recalled. “He was kind of this generation’s superstar for Flames’ fans. It was really funny, him as a rookie, [he’d say] ‘I have no idea how big a deal I am.’”
Sportsnet’s Eric Francis says Gaudreau was a shy and unassuming kind of guy.
“He just went out and did his job and did it better than most of his teammates,” he said. “They loved what he did for their team, for their organization, and they loved him as a person.
“You’re not going to find anybody who said anything bad about Johnny Gaudreau the person.”
The Calgary Tower will be lit up in Flames colours Friday night from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. in honour of Johnny and Matthew.
-With files from Phoenix Phillips