One year ago: A Johnny Gaudreau tribute

One year ago today. One year ago today, a mother and father lost their two sons. Their two daughters lost their brothers. Two wives lost their husbands. Two toddlers lost their father. Two unborn children lost their fathers and will spend their lives having never met them. One year ago today, the world lost two outstanding human beings.

Over the past year, I have struggled to put into words the impact that Johnny Gaudreau has made on me and the entire hockey world. Whenever someone asks how I, a kid from Vancouver, BC, became a Calgary Flames fan, I tell them about the times I first watched Johnny Hockey play. At approximately five years old, I watched his debut game against the Vancouver Canucks. When I first watched him skate up the ice that game, I was hooked. From then on out, I was a Flames fan for life, and Johnny was my favourite player.

Johnny on the ice

After years of difficulty and disappointment, Johnny rejuvenated the C of Red. He brought the Flames back to relevancy like a phoenix arising from the ashes. Ever since 2004, the Flames have really struggled to reach the same point they were once at. When Johnny Hockey joined the team, it was a breath of fresh air for the fanbase. They once again were watching a superstar on the roster.

Being the primary play driver on the Flames, Johnny made you turn on the TV or go to the Scotiabank Saddledome. All of that culminated in one of the greatest moments of every Flames fan’s life. Johnny Gaudreau scored on the 67th shot of the game from a sharp angle. The third goal of the game past Jake Oettinger for a Game Seven overtime winner. Joy. That was the emotion that came across me and the entire C of Red in that moment.

Johnny off the ice

However, his impact goes beyond the ice into the communities in Calgary, Columbus, and wherever he was. Words cannot express how much he meant to the fans and the people he helped along the way. He supported men’s mental health by donating for each point he scored. He also donated to the Archbishop Damiano School in New Jersey, a place where the Gaudreau family has strong ties. Every step of the way, his brother Matthew Gaudreau was with him, giving back.

His impact on me

Johnny was, and always will be, my role model, and I know I am not alone in that boat. He is who I aspire to be, someone who cares about those around him, especially his family. When it comes to hockey, he and my brother are the two most important people. My parents, who came to Canada in the late ’90s and early 2000s, were never fully into hockey until my brother and I. Now, it’s the biggest part of me, with my life constantly revolving around it, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I will forever remember my first trip to Calgary, getting a Johnny Gaudreau shirt from the team shop, and wearing it all day, every day. That’s what Johnny meant to me.

For all he has done, the number 13 should be put into the rafters, forever immortalizing Johnny.

To the Gaudreau family: the C of Red and the entire hockey world will always be there to support you. We will always be behind you and will help you honour the legacy of the people who did so much for us. Your sons, husbands, fathers, and brothers were role models for us all. Thank you for sharing them with us and for all the memories that we will cherish forever.

Please visit the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation. Read about the lives of Johnny and Matthew, and read about the good that the foundation does. Tell your friends and family, spread awareness about it, and if possible, please donate.

Please never drink and drive, your life is not the only one at risk.

Rest in peace, Johnny and Matthew, you will forever be missed.