I remember scouring and watching every highlight of his when he was drafted before he was even a flame.
Same here.
After he was drafted and started blowing up the NCAA, I was following him closely. I was lucky to be in Boston for work and had an evening to kill. I went to Boston College and watched him play - he was electric! I think he got 5-6 points in the single game! At that point, I started to believe the Flames would have a future star and associated success. I was happy to be right on that occasion.
It was such a pleasure to watch him play. Even my son, who wants nothing to do with hockey, liked to watch him play.
Condolences to his sister, his wife, and Guy & Jane - two of the best parents on the planet IMO. Wishing their family peace in knowing that their sons lived very full lives and brought positivity to the world.
Johnny and his entire family always felt closer to the Flames than many players, because of how tight their family itself is and how they'd all be at the Saddledome watching Johnny as a baby, playing his first games with the Flames and the amount of positive focus the local media had on his mom and dad. Today's news is absolutely devastating. I feel absolutely terrible for mama and papa Gaudreau. Fly high Johnny and Matty.
His goal late in Game 3 against Anaheim in 2015 is one that I remember fondly. Had me thinking that the find a way Flames maybe had a chance. He provided a lot of memorable hockey moments for fans of the Flames.
The skittles stories are also a nice memory of a Dad trying to get his son to take up a game he loved.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
I’m sure every flames fan has said these three words, be it in arena or in your own home.
We believed in you day one kid. It was a heartbreak when you left and we let you know it when you came back but you know it was out of love and admiration. The sweetest human. So great with your teammates. So great with the community. Above all else he was a great Father, Son and Brother.
__________________
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__________________ MMF is the tough as nails cop that "plays by his own rules". The force keeps suspending him when he crosses the line but he keeps coming back and then cracks a big case.
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Same here.
After he was drafted and started blowing up the NCAA, I was following him closely. I was lucky to be in Boston for work and had an evening to kill. I went to Boston College and watched him play - he was electric! I think he got 5-6 points in the single game! At that point, I started to believe the Flames would have a future star and associated success. I was happy to be right on that occasion.
It was such a pleasure to watch him play. Even my son, who wants nothing to do with hockey, liked to watch him play.
Condolences to his sister, his wife, and Guy & Jane - two of the best parents on the planet IMO. Wishing their family peace in knowing that their sons lived very full lives and brought positivity to the world.
I remember the hype becoming reality when browna started talking about how shifty Gaudreau was, and he stopped JUST short of comparing him to Gretzky.
The Johnny OT winner with Rittich preemptively celebrating in the background:
It's a ####ed up morning when a hockey highlight makes you laugh and cry at the same time.
__________________
"Life of Russian hockey veterans is very hard," said Soviet hockey star Sergei Makarov. "Most of them don't have enough to eat these days. These old players are Russian legends."
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His goal late in Game 3 against Anaheim in 2015 is one that I remember fondly. Had me thinking that the find a way Flames maybe had a chance. He provided a lot of memorable hockey moments for fans of the Flames.
The skittles stories are also a nice memory of a Dad trying to get his son to take up a game he loved.
Some of many others, the OT Dallas and Anaheim goal,
- penalty shot game 4 vs Dallas to basically seal that game
- him setting up Jagr for his only goal
- the "Here's Johnny" goal vs the Rangers as called by Hughson.
- hat trick vs LA in OT in a big comeback
There was a play in his second or third year where he stick handled through quickly the neutral zone at speed and then did did a slight hesitation which completely messed uo a defender. Knew at that point we had a skilled star.
He was loved here, loved it here, wanted to create a legacy here and only his love and promises he made to family over ruled that, to move closer to him.
My kid's favorite player. He woke up really sad to hear the news. Is also wearing his jersey today as tribute. Told me that Johnny is the reason he loved playing hockey. It didn't matter that he left, my kid asked me at least every 2-3 months if I thought Johnny would come back. Literally on Wednesday, he asked me how much longer his contract was, so he could count the years for the chance for him to come back.
I'm a bit older than Johnny, but he truly was an inspiration to watch. So much fun. He left a lasting impression on my boy, and me.
A tragedy all around. Regardless of who he was, parents lost both of their sons, on the eve of their daughters wedding. So so tragic.
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To that first goal he scored in Penticton seconds after jumping on the ice against the Oilers he just felt like a different prospect. He was such a humble star and he and his family truly became part of the Calgary community. Just gutted, but I am thankful that he was a Flames as long as he was. He is the type of person and player you really love to root for. RIP.
