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

[Yobbo]

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 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've been having the same thoughts.

[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.

[btimbit]

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.

Brother I could dwell on this type of thought all night. And I have ever since my son died.

Maybe #### just happens and life is a bitch. Maybe this and maybe that. Maybe we should all just go #### ourselves.

All we can do is accept what did happen instead of what didn't. Maybe if those same million things that happened that resulted in us losing Johnny, would also mean he doesn't leave behind the beautiful kids that he does. We can at least be happy that that beautiful family exists, as tragic as it is that they exist without a father

[Matt Reeeeead]

You’re totally right Jiri. Everything changes in different scenarios. Could have just as easily happened here, but it didn’t. It happened there.

Just the way life went on this one particular simulation.

Just terrible and sad.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sainters7]

Omg...been crushed all day about this (going rollerblading to the Dome in my Gaudreau jersey after dinner), I was watching a video on my phone that choked me up, of me at the Dome recording the celebration from Gaudreau's 100th point in 2022 I was lucky to be in the stands for.

...I just got a call to learn the co-worker who gave me the tickets for that game suddenly passed away last night too. Was 61 and in AMAZING shape, was going to retire next year with his wife out to a home in New Brunswick. This day ####### sucks.

[btimbit]

I'm wearing my Gaudreau jersey for the next week.

[timun]

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.

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.

I don't think that's what Jiri meant, but it is something I thought of earlier: whether Johnny stayed a Calgary Flame or not, all those weird "butterfly effects" that knock-on after making decisions like that almost certainly wouldn't have made a difference. They weren't in Calgary or Columbus: they were in New Jersey, down the street from their parents' house. It wouldn't have happened any differently.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by timun

I don't think that's what Jiri meant, but it is something I thought of earlier: whether Johnny stayed a Calgary Flame or not, all those weird "butterfly effects" that knock-on after making decisions like that almost certainly wouldn't have made a difference. They weren't in Calgary or Columbus: they were in New Jersey, down the street from their parents' house. It wouldn't have happened any differently.

I think that's fair to say.

Johnny would have been there for his sister's wedding no matter where he was playing. And he would have been right to do that, and the driver who hit him would have been wrong, no matter what the circumstances were away from the crash site.

[btimbit]

####in way she goes boys

[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.

Or a number of things that could have possibly caused that person's life to take a different course.

[Hockey_Ninja]

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

[WhiteTiger]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1829664245254123687

[Reggie Dunlop]

Two brothers, close in age, go for an evening bike ride around their parents house. A scene probably repeated a thousand times over the years.

[gargamel]

Haven't been this upset at the death of someone I don't know personally in a very long time, but as a Flames fan and Boston College alum, I feel like I've "known" him since he was a kid. I've got him to thank for so many good memories.

At a loss for words, but **** drunk drivers. I lost my parents to one 22 years ago, and it boggles my mind that people are still doing it when there are such easy alternatives.

RIP

[taxbuster]

Roasting out here in the Shuswap....wearing my Flames jersey. Didn't seem right not to do that. I played his songs for Leonard Cohen...and similarly for others. Johnny gets it too. Gutted for that family - I have kids his age. Ugh.

[TheScorpion]

Still a couple hundred people here at the Saddledome.

[Barnet Flame]

I woke up this morning, poured myself a coffee and logged into CalgaryPuck as I do most mornings. It’s a nice, easy way to start the day. But not today.

As I head to bed now, I just feel awful.

As bad as I feel, I can’t begin to pretend to understand the pain the Gaudreaus and their wider families are going through now. Twos sons, husbands and fathers - in Matthew’s case, soon to be a father - taken on the eve of what should have been a joyous day. It is sickeningly cruel.

I hope that the Gaudreaus get all the love and support they need at this time and for as long as they need. I also sincerely hope that in the future they get at least a crumb of comfort from knowing just how much their wonderful family has positively impacted so many people across the world, most of whom they’ll never meet.

[MonsieurFish]

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.

Also have been having these thoughts. I think where I have landed is that regardless of Johnny's re-signing decisions, he still would have been in the same scenario in preparation for his sister's wedding, and that none of it matters. Who knows, though.

[fotze2]

Could you have wrote a worse ending to one of the best game story's . Goddamn storey was half way through. He was as prominent as the English language in my house getting my kids to stop being pssies because they are small.

This is the worst


All the stuff he’s done. My kids flphuckong adore him.

Am I a piece of crap because this has hit me more than my 92 yr old dad dying in feb. maybe.

Stay gold pony boy.

[Gaudreau is a Ninja]

Please Flames put #13 in the rafters, such a sad day