Rasmus Andersson and Johnny Gaudreau have been friends at the Flames since their rookie years (Source: Getty Images)

In Photos: Johnny Gaudreau's daughter Noa's playdate with Rasmus Andersson's son Benji in Calgary

Modified Dec 03, 2024 14:21 GMT

The Calgary Flames are gearing up for an emotional night as they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The game will be preceded by a special tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau. His family, who were in town to attend the ceremony, met up with some of his close teammates from his time in Calgary.

Johnny Gaudreau's wife Meredith and their daughter, Noa, were invited to the home of Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson. There Noa enjoyed a fun day with Benji, the son of Rasmus and his wife, Tessa's. Meredith shared stories on Instagram from Tessa's account, showcasing the lovely bond between the two kids.

In one photo, the children were seen smiling in front of a window with holiday decorations and a snow-filled outside. In a subsequent video, Noa and Benji enjoyed time at the craft table.

Meredith Gaudreau's Instagram stories featuring her daughter Noa and Tessa Anderson's son Benji. (Credits: @meredithgaudreau_ Instagram)

Rasmus and Johnny had been close friends since their rookie days with the Flames. They grew even closer over the years as mainstays in the Flames roster and remained friends till the latter's untimely death in late August due to an accident.

Last week, Meredith shared her excitement about reconnecting with Johnny's old friends and experiencing the things he loved during his time in Calgary.

"I’m excited to get to Calgary. I know John always wanted to get the kids out there, so I'm going to extend the trip and do everything that we love to do around the city. I'm excited for people in the organization to meet the kids and have the fans see the kids," Meredith said in an exclusive interview with Sportsnet.

Rasmus Anderson spends time with Johnny Gaudreau's father in the rink

On Monday night, Flames' practice session was attended by Johnny's father, Guy, who was invited as the guest coach for the team's fixture against the Blue Jackets. Guy, who played basketball and hockey as a young kid himself and coached high school teams, skated on the ice for the most part alongside Rasmus Anderson. The two exchanged plenty of words, mostly surrounding hockey.

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Tributes have poured in across the city of Calgary since the news of the death of their beloved 'Johnny Hockey,' who spent eight seasons with the Flames. The night dedicated to him will include an inauguration of a special bench at a local rink, crafted from the sticks left at Johnny's memorial. The proceeds for the night will also go to MADD Canada and KidSport Calgary, two charities that were close to the former winger.