Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau's sisters reminisce Christmas throwback picture of all four Gaudreau siblings from 2006

Modified Dec 09, 2024 13:46 GMT

Late NHLer Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew's tragic death on Aug. 29 has left the entire Gaudreau family grieving. Since then, they have found different ways to pay tribute to the memory of their loved ones.

On Sunday, Johnny Gaudreau’s sister Katie reposted a throwback Christmas photo from 2006 on her Instagram Story. The photo, originally posted by their eldest sister Kristen, features the siblings posing with Santa Claus gathered in front of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

The snapshot showed a younger Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, along with their sisters Katie and Kristen, and Kristen's husband, all dressed in seasonal attire. Johnny was dressed in a casual light blue shirt with red and white designs, while Matthew wore a green and white striped polo shirt.

Katie, who sat in the center front, was dressed in a dark red velvet dress with puffed sleeves. Kristen stood behind the group, dressed in a black dress paired with a choker necklace. Her husband can be seen wearing a maroon sweater and a matching cap.

Santa Claus held the three children as they sat on the couch with the twinkling lights and ornaments on the Christmas tree adding to the holiday atmosphere.

Johnny Gaudreau’s mother reacts to emotional fan made video in honor of late NHLer

Earlier this week, Johnny Gaudreau’s mother Jane Gaudreau shared her heartfelt appreciation for a fan-made video tribute that beautifully chronicled her late son’s hockey journey. The video featured clips from Johnny's childhood playing days to his professional NHL career, including his draft day with the Calgary Flames and iconic moments on the ice.

Jane pointed out a specific scene in the video where Johnny, at age eight and later at 18, performed the same hockey move behind the net. She thanked the creator on X, writing:

“Amazing video montage! Especially loved going from 8-year-old John to 18-year-old John with the same move behind the net. Thank you!”

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The tribute comes amidst a wave of memorials following the tragic loss of Johnny and his brother, Matthew. On Tuesday, the Calgary Flames paid a special tribute to Johnny Gaudreau during their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Before the game, both teams wore Johnny's #13 jerseys during warmups, and a video montage celebrating his career played on the arena’s screens, accompanied by Johnny B. Goode.

The entire family was present for the ceremonial puck drop and after the game, Johnny Gaudreau was named the First Star of the night. The Flames also unveiled a community bench made from hockey sticks donated at Johnny's memorial.