When I woke up yesterday morning for work around 6:15 am and saw the rumors circulating on Twitter, I could not believe my eyes. Even still, none of hockey's biggest media personalities had yet reported on the situation, so in my head, I was holding out hope that it was not true. Then, at 7:30 am, when the Columbus Blue Jackets released their statement, my heart immediately sank; Johnny Gaudreau and his 29-year-old brother were gone after being killed by a suspected drunk driver while cycling on a rural two-lane road near their home in Salem, N.J. on Thursday Night. In town to serve as groomsmen for their sister Katie's wedding in what was supposed to be a day of joyous celebration instead leaves friends, family, and the hockey world in mourning.
Over the last 24 hours, as tributes began to pour in from across the sporting landscape, I have been trying to think of a way to encapsulate Gaudreau perfectly. A showstopping forward, upon entering the league in 2014, he would immediately go on to become one of the game's brightest stars. In 763 regular season games across the Calgary Flames and the Columbus Blue Jackets, he scored 241 goals and 498 assists for 739 points. A near point per game pace despite standing at just 5'9. Regularly disrupting the flow of the game with his brilliant hockey sense and showstopping hands, the 31-year-old quickly became the poster child for the next generation of undersized hockey players who thrived on using their speed and skill instead of size and strength.
If I had to pick my favorite moment in a career filled with eye-catching highlights, it would be the overtime winner against the Dallas Stars in game seven of the first round of the 2022 playoffs. In what would be his last season in Calgary, Gaudreau teamed up with Matthew Thachuk to help form one of the most dangerous lines in hockey. As a result, he posted his best year as a pro, scoring 40 goals and adding 75 assists for 115 points.
Then, in the postseason, the Boston College product scored the biggest goal for the Flames since their Stanley Cup run in 2004 when he buried an overtime winner to send the franchise to the second round. Watching that game, I did not know if there was anything Calgary could do to guide a puck past Jake Oettinger, who was brilliant that night. Leave it to Gaudreau who snuck one over his shoulder to send both the Scotiabank Saddledome and the city into celebration. It was a magical night in team history and the high water mark for a franchise that had undergone dark moments following Jarome Iginla's departure in 2013.
But above all else, Gaudreau's love for family will be remembered most. The seven-time All-Star famously learned to skate at the Hollydell Ice Arena in South Jersey. His father, Guy, was a rink manager and had full access to the ice. He regularly scattered Skittles around his two sons, who each took their first strides, chasing down the candies. Whether it was enjoying days on the shores of South Jersey or time together during the holiday season, Johnny Hockey just wanted to be around loved ones and part of the family.
Upon entering free agency in 2018 after eight seasons in Calgary, it was clear the former Lady Byng Trophy winner wanted to return closer to the Northeast. Courted by both his hometown New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers, he instead chose to sign with the Blue Jackets. The perfect place for his wife Meredith and their growing family, he thought Columbus was an ideal spot to raise his kids while being close to friends. Shortly after becoming a Blue Jacket, his first child, Noa Harper Gaudreau, was born, and on February 22nd this year, the couple gave birth to their second child, a boy named Johnny Edward Gaudreau.
Gaudreau's character would shine through last season in his brief time in the Ohio community. In support of teammate Patrick Laine and the Laine's Give Back program, he pledged to donate $1,000 for every point he recorded to men's mental health initiatives.
Hug your loved ones a little tighter today, continue to give back to the community, and always love the game that Gaudreau did so much.
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