Johnny Gaudreau’s Flame Will Shine On
Johnny Gaudreau was a beloved father, a husband, a brother, a son. When a senseless accident involving an alleged drunk driver tragically killed him and his brother Matthew, his relatives lost what he represented for each of them, while the sports world lost a brilliant hockey player. Johnny was a seven-time NHL All-Star about to embark on his eleventh season in the league.
During his first eight seasons in the NHL, Johnny Hockey–as he was known–played for the Calgary Flames, where he was recognized not only as a talented player but also for his incredible sportsmanship. He later signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets and enjoyed two seasons on their squad before the unimaginable happened last August.
Now that the hockey season is well underway, Johnny’s two former teams finally faced each other on Tuesday night in what was expected to be an emotional encounter for everyone. To honor their former player, the two teams came together and wore Johnny Gaudreau jerseys during warmups; later, they performed a ceremonial puck drop in the company of Johnny and Matthew’s loved ones before the game. Calgary, the city home for the Gaudreau family for eight years, welcomed Johnny’s wife Meredith and their two kids, Noa and Johnny Jr., as well as his parents and sisters.
It was a raw yet heartfelt moment, with Johnny’s parents, Jane and Guy, at the heart of the tribute. As the puck dropped, they remained deeply moved by the outpouring of love and admiration for their son—a true testament to how beloved he was within the hockey community.
Meredith, currently pregnant with their third child, also expressed her gratitude to the city and its people, especially its kindness in welcoming them back.
“Everyone has been so warm. It feels almost like you’ve never left when you are here for a couple days, so many familiar faces. And, you know, spent so much time here, so a lot of good memories”
To further commemorate Johnny and his legacy, Meredith got a tattoo of his signature on her wrist, deciding Calgary would be the perfect setting to do it. “I thought it would be cool to say that I did that in Calgary because that is where his autograph really took off. It’s like, this is where it all began,” she expressed.
As the last couple of months have been inevitably harsh for the family, Johnny’s impact can still be felt through the continuous shows of support his family has been getting. The way people have rallied around his and Matthew’s family proves that their memory will live on forever through their children, their families, and everyone who at least once got the privilege to watch them excel at their sport: Johnny’s flame will shine on.