[News] Confirmed: Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matt have passed away

[looooob]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Still a couple hundred people here at the Saddledome.

Really diverse crowd when we were there - glad we went

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I... am not sure how we're supposed to interpret "it wasn't supposed to be like this". Because it sure sounds like you're saying his decision to go to Columbus set in motion a chain of events that led to his death. Which is no more or less true than saying that his decision to start playing hockey set in motion a chain of events that led to his death... if that's a misinterpretation, you maybe should clarify because yeah that doesn't come across great.

When my sister-in-law died suddenly at the age of 32, from a seizure, my mother/father in law both started getting caught up in the what ifs. What if they'd told her she could stay at home longer? She'd only moved out 3 years prior. Maybe if she was still living at home, they could have done something when she had the seizure. Maybe if the cabbie arriving at 615 that morning had gone to the door...maybe if they'd been a little more insistent that she give the union meeting in Edmonton a swerve because they knew how tired she was...maybe if one of them had offered to take her to the airport rather than pick her up...maybe maybe maybe...all the 'butterfly effect' stuff.

None of it would have made a difference. The seizure was massive & the effect immediate - she was gone before she came to rest on the floor. Nothing & no one would have changed that outcome. I asked 'what if you hadn't encouraged her to live her life? To move out, move on with her life, LIVE her life. Because she lived it. She was happy, fulfilled - she'd accomplished so much on her "list of life" and she was HAPPY. Isn't that what you wanted most for her - her happiness? You gave her life...and you let her live it. You can what if this till the cows come home - you can what if both sides of this, until it drives you crazy."

I think that's where Jiri was going. I thought a lot of similar thoughts today - what might have been different for those guys with one little tweak to their day/life? I don't think it's abnormal to think about/wonder about, I think it's a very typical response - because we are trying to make sense of the insensible but it's like trying to smell the color 9 - it won't happen.

It ISN'T supposed to be like this - for my SIL/husband's family/our family or for Johnny & Matthew or their families. It's unthinkable and unfathomable, these losses. It just isn't...

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

I was hesitant to ask this earlier but what happens to a player's contract if they die during it?

I asked the same a few hours ago. Contract doesn’t get paid out but NHL has mandatory life insurance that pays 1 yr salary in the case of accidental death.

[jayswin]

You simply can't do the what ifs when people die. literally every second of our lives are the what ifs. It's just more torture in the healing process, imo.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by GGG

I asked the same a few hours ago. Contract doesn’t get paid out but NHL has mandatory life insurance that pays 1 yr salary in the case of accidental death.

Wow really? Damn that’s brutal.

I’m sure they had higher insurance personally but still. Would love to see the Bluejackets commit to paying at least part of it out for his family.

[JurassicTunga12]

Blue Jackets fan over at HFBoards shared a picture from outside Nationwide arena:

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I've been hesitant to share this, as I don't want people to mis-interpret this, but I can;t get it out of my head.

I often think about how the existence of my daughter is the result of hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of little decisions, that if any of them are different, means she isn't in my life. Maybe I have a kid still. A different kid. But not her. Life's miracles are the culmination of these moments. But today is a reminder that so are life's tragedies.

There is an alternative timeline where Johnny re-signs with the Flames, breaks all the records, and becomes the greatest Flame. And he and Sean grow into the aging vets on the team, mentoring the next generation.

Ultimately the decision that cost Johnny and Matty their lives was made by the murderer who got behind the wheel drunk. But I just can't get it out of my head that it wasn't supposed to be like this. None of it.

I go through thoughts like this too, but there's so many crazy alternate situations possible.
In an alternate universe, that driver doesn't come across and kill the Gaudreau's today but continues being a POS drunk driver and kills someone else in the near future instead, maybe a child.
Would still be tragic but to a different family and most(all) of us would never even hear about it.

Life is full of these strange and sometimes terrible circumstances. Unfortunately today it took the life of someone we all knew and cared about.

[Flabbibulin]

Was mostly ok during the day, thanks to a super busy day at work, but starting to hit a lot harder as the evening progresses. Anyone else?

[googol]

This has hit me pretty hard.

It felt like Johnny was a part of a good chunk of my life even though i had never met him. I feel so bad for his family and I hope they can get through this tough period.



The only silver lining is that I hope this brings more awareness to drunk driving.

[Zulu29]

What an absolutely horrific and completely avoidable tragedy. My heart breaks for the Gaudreau family. Two wives are widows, two parents outlived their children and two children soon to be three are now fatherless and will never know their dads. All because some selfish, entitled piece of kyit decided he could drive. I am gutted. This hasn’t felt real to me all day long even though I saw the rumour lastnight and saw all the articles confirming it today. It just doesn’t seem real.

RIP Johnny and Matt. Love and condolences to the Gaudreaus, I’m so sorry.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Sean and his wife Brittany are amazing.

When TJ had his scare she was the first one to let his family know and give them comfort.

It’s good to know John's family had someone like that around.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

Was mostly ok during the day, thanks to a super busy day at work, but starting to hit a lot harder as the evening progresses. Anyone else?

Exactly the same. Had a busy day at work but with the feeling of a black could hanging over the day. Got home and have been watching some of the coverage and tributes. Gut wrenching stuff. I can't even imagine what the family is going through.

Obviously the Gaudreau family gets the primary thoughts and prayers on a day like today, but I'm also gonna throw out some thoughts to my fellow Flames fans and the people on this board. It's a tough day for all of us who have followed the team for years or even decades. We spend a lot of time following the team and players so its impossible not to feel impacted by this.

I left in 2017, but I know the entire city of Calgary is feeling it given its a small city where the Flames are part of the fabric of the city.

If I was in Calgary today I'd be going to contribute to the memorial at the dome.

[ElPresidenti]

I am heartbroken today, not only for the loss of perhaps the most skilled dynamic player in our franchise history, but how this senseless tragedy will impact all of the Gaudreau family. Getting ready to celebrate their sisters wedding today and to find out that your family has been decimated with the loss of your 2 brothers, sons, Husbands, Father and a Father to be, has to be horrific for all. I cant imagine what they are going through. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the Gaudreau family.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

The only hypothetical I have in my mind is if that drunk driver had his license taken away a long time ago, Johnny and Matthew are probably still alive today.

A guy that determined to be stupid would likely go ahead and drive without a licence. I once had a car totalled by a guy that dumb – not visibly drunk, but no licence, no insurance, and he was driving somebody else's car.

I admit it would have improved the odds, but nothing is certain.

[Minnie]

Rick Tulsie, over on Threads (video at the link, I have no idea if Threads links can be imbedded like Twitter links) - https://www.threads.net/@ricktulsie/..._UOzQ4d_I0TFJQ

[Cycling76er]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

Was mostly ok during the day, thanks to a super busy day at work, but starting to hit a lot harder as the evening progresses. Anyone else?

Yeah. I learned of this right at the end of a quick phone call with my boss this morning. It was like a punch in the gut. Work kept my mind off of it all day but I just broke down in my partner's arms this evening. It's just a lot to process. I have a hard time processing death. There's just so many memories tied to Flames hockey and players. It hit me really hard out of nowhere this evening.

Absolutely gutted. Everytime it goes through my head I just can't believe it. "Johnny Gaudreau and his brother killed while riding bikes".

As a cyclist and someone who has lost friends to drunk drivers, it really hits hard.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Rick Tulsie, over on Threads (video at the link, I have no idea if Threads links can be imbedded like Twitter links) - https://www.threads.net/@ricktulsie/..._UOzQ4d_I0TFJQ

Yep - he posted on Twitter as well:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1829704308490916207

[Pickle Juice]

This has hit me so freaking hard! Watching dude perfect tonight with my youngest just cuddling him! Got the gemstone lights on representing Johnny and Mathew in heaven!

[Acey]

I'm just devastated. My favourite player. I could barely bring myself to come to the board to read this thread.

This one really hurts.

[Ferarri]

As the day goes along, I find myself shifting from sadness to anger. This was such a needless and preventable tragedy that should never have happened. Because of one person’s selfish and neglectful behavior a family is in mourning. Reading about this individual consuming alcohol, getting in a car while continuing to drink and then failing a sobriety test is pure evil.

Actions have consequences and had the driver acted responsibly then the Gaudreau’s would be celebrating a family wedding rather than planning two funerals. This person’s disregard of common sense and the law infuriates me and quite frankly makes me sick.

Watching his reaction today really solidifies the kind of person he is.
Had he decided to find another way home then two wives wouldn’t have become widows, children would have grown up knowing their dad’s and a mother & father wouldn’t be burying their sons. All of this because a selfish, neglectful POS decided to roll the dice and disregard the safety and security of others.

It’s nice to see the hockey community rally together and comforting to know that the Gaudreau’s are not alone, but this was just a completely unnecessary tragedy. No sentence or time behind bars will ever heal the pain caused by the driver.

What a sad and crushing day for everyone involved. Thoughts and prayers to the Gaudreau family.