Johnny Gaudreau's family sends a heartfelt message to Calgary Flames fans & organization

Modified Oct 13, 2024 05:09 GMT

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's family expressed their deep appreciation to the Calgary Flames fans and the organization for their love and support during their time of grief. The Gaudreau family is coping with the tragic loss of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who passed away in a car accident in late August.

On Saturday, Sportsnet’s Ryan Leslie shared a video message recorded by the Gaudreau family on his X account. In the video, Johnny and Matthew’s mother, Jane Gaudreau, thanked the Calgary community for their support during a difficult time, mentioning how much the love meant to their family.

“Hi Calgary, on behalf of the entire Gaudreau family, we want to express our deepest gratitude to our Calgary family,” Jane said. “Your thoughts, your prayers, your cards, your gifts, and your visits have meant the world to us. The love and support you have shown for John, Mattie, and our entire family has helped us through the hardest time of our lives.”

Johnny's sisters, Kristen and Katie Gaudreau, also spoke about the bond their family has built with the Calgary community over the years.

“Calgary and the Flames organization have been a special part of our lives for over 13 incredible years. We have made so many friends that have become family to us, and we will always cherish the memories we've made here,” Kristen Gaudreau said.

Katie added her thanks to the fans for their continuous support:

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“Thank you again for standing by us when we needed you most. Please continue to keep our family in your thoughts as we work together to keep John and Maddie's legacy alive. We can't wait to come visit Calgary again and thank you all in person.”

Johnny's father, Guy Gaudreau, ended the message with a note of encouragement for the Flames, who played their home opener on Saturday. He said:

“Good luck to the Flames tonight. We're very excited to watch you play.”

Calgary Flames paid a special tribute to Johnny Gaudreau at Scotiabank Saddledome

On Saturday, the Calgary Flames honored their late star Johnny Gaudreau in a touching tribute before their home opener at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The ceremony included a special video with Gaudreau's most iconic moments for the Flames, concluding with his signature goal song, "Johnny B. Goode."

The crowd responded with a long, heartfelt ovation, filling the arena with chants of "Johnny! Johnny! Johnny!"

Fans were given light-up wristbands, and during the tribute, the entire arena sparkled with lights in memory of their beloved player.

Johnny Gaudreau played nine of his 11 NHL seasons with the Flames, becoming a franchise legend with 609 points in 602 games. He also spent two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. To honor his memory, NHL players across the league will wear decals with the numbers 13 and 21 this season, representing Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s numbers.