‘A humble superstar’: Johnny Gaudreau honoured at Saddledome with family in attendance

Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were honoured Tuesday night before the Calgary Flames played the Columbus Blue Jackets, on the same ice where Johnny etched his place as a cherished member of the city’s hockey community. 

The tribute marked the first home game between the Flames and the Blue Jackets since the Gaudreau brothers were killed by a suspected drunk driver in New Jersey in August. 

Before the game started, there was ceremonial puck drop presided over by the Gaudreau family between Flames captain Mikael Backlund and former Flame Sean Monahan, who was close friends with Johnny Gaudreau and currently plays for the Blue Jackets.

Cheers of “Johnny, Johnny” could be heard from the crowd ahead of the symbolic faceoff.

A special video montage of Gaudreau, accompanied by an acoustic rendering of Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode sang by Canadian country singer George Canyon, was also shown before the game to honour the former Flame’s legacy, who spent nine seasons with the team.

Players on both the Blue Jackets and the Flames also wore special jerseys during warm-up.

The entire Gaudreau family was at the Saddledome for Tuesday’s acknowledgements, in their first trip back to the city since the deaths of the Gaudreau brothers. 

Guy Gaudreau, Johnny’s father, took to the ice with the Flames team during practice on Monday as an honorary coach. The elder Gaudreau coached high school hockey for many years in New Jersey. 

“It was nice to have him out there, that’s for sure,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska afterwards. 

“There was some reminiscing and some good stories that made us all laugh and we asked him to help teach our guys how to score. He did a good job with his son, so we asked if he could help some of our players along today.” 

Captain Mikael Backlund said Guy had some tips to share with him. 

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“He said I still got my speed in my hands … and yeah he told me just go to net, hang around the net, and you’ll score goals.” 

Backlund added that while it was an emotional day reuniting with Guy, it was good to have him back with the team.

“It’s hard, but we want to do what we can to support them and show them that we really appreciate what the whole family did for us here in Calgary.”

Also on Monday, other members of the Gaudreau family took part in the unveiling of the first of half a dozen hockey stick benches, with engraved plaques for Johnny and Matthew, that will be placed in local community arenas around the city.

The sticks making up each bench were taken from the memorial that grew on the steps of the Saddledome in September to honour the brothers. 

Monahan played eight seasons with Gaudreau in Calgary before signing with Columbus, and was set to reunite on the ice with his buddy on that team.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who doesn’t like Johnny … He’s funny, outgoing, shy at the same time and very giving. He’s just a humble, humble superstar,” said Monahan.

“He’s had a huge influence on this city, a huge influence in the league and impacted many people’s lives.”