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

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Since you are in Oakland you know this but I would imagine many here don't - lane splitting is legal in California for motorcycles. It's the most dangerous thing I can imagine. They tend to hang out between the carpool lane and the #1 lane in traffic so I generally try to avoid using those lanes.

He's not talking about lane splitting - he's talking about a cyclist choosing to ride on the shoulder or on the side of the lane as opposed to right smack in the middle. He advocates the latter since the bike is a vehicle and thus entitled to be there and because it makes cars pass you like another car, instead of just whipping by with no room.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Gemnoble

In the MLB - P Jose Fernandez and RF Roberto Clemente both died in vehicular accidents during or just after their prime. Clemente made the Hall of Fame posthumously.

In the NFL - WR Chris Henry died in his prime after he fell out of a moving vehicle.

In the NBA - Center Jason Collier died in a prime season from the effects of a heart condition.

From an English perspective, Man Utd in the Munich Air disaster of '58 would be closest

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

He's not talking about lane splitting - he's talking about a cyclist choosing to ride on the shoulder or on the side of the lane as opposed to right smack in the middle. He advocates the latter since the bike is a vehicle and thus entitled to be there and because it makes cars pass you like another car, instead of just whipping by with no room.

Yeah, it just reminded me of that. I have no idea what the attraction is for using those. I'd rather sit in a car and get there a few minutes later.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Telling the cops you’ve had 5-6 beers is something you only do after you’ve had 10-12, because you think 5-6 sounds more reasonable.

They are going to make an example of this ‘man’.

Failed a roadside (though in the states their roadside sobriety tests are often asinine). I imagine they got a real reading when he was brought in.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Yeah, it just reminded me of that. I have no idea what the attraction is for using those. I'd rather sit in a car and get there a few minutes later.

Lots of motorcyclists claim lane splitting (where it's legal) is the safer option in heavy traffic.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Some drivers are going to buzz you regardless of the safe choices you make as a cyclist

I won't ride bicycles on roads with cars for the same reason I won't ride motorcycles here, I don't want to put my life into the hands of bad drivers. It's awful that you can do everything right as a rider but still end up dead because some jackass is drunk or not paying attention. Johnny and Matthew were hit only a few kilometers from where they grew up, they had probably biked that route countless times as kids. Didn't matter in the end how experienced they were though because of one selfish prick in his murder wagon

[dissentowner]

What posted on my FB profile today.

It's 2011 and I am on the Calgarypuck website checking who the team drafted through rounds 2-7 and I read with our 4th round pick we selected Johnny Gaudreau. I had know idea who the hell this kid was but seeing his draft picture I am like wtf? This kid looks 8 years old and is about the same size! My second thought was he will never play in the NHL, a Chara fart would send this kid crashing into the boards. Why in the hell would the Flames draft such a tiny player as high as 4th? I started researching his junior career and watched video I could find and it quickly became obvious why the Flames would take a gamble, his skill was off the charts. I have always cheered for the little guy in hockey, my favourite all time player being Theo Fleury, a little ball of attitude and anger that he unleashed on the ice every night combined with a high skillset. I quickly became a big fan of Gaudreau before he even got a chance to play his first game in a Flames jersey at the Pentincton Classic. When I watched his junior game I quickly saw he could survive in the NHL because his ability to turn on a dime combined with his edgework, shiftiness, and keeping himself out of vulnerable situations would allow him to do so. I watched him play at the World Juniors in 2013, absolutely dominating the the opposition and leading his team to gold. Then the Classic where he also dominated, scoring highlight reel goals and torching the opposition. I remember the excitement of hearing he would play the final game of the 2013-2014 season to burn a year off his deal, he scored the only Flames goal that night on his first NHL shot. A star was being born. There are way too many great memories to post here, the all star games, the hat trick against the Ducks to single handedly win the game after trailing going into the 3rd, all the ridiculous highlight reel plays he made. Also of course, the game winner against Dallas in game 7 OT.

On July 12th 2022 as Gaudreau was approaching possibly becoming a free agent the Flames and Gaudreau's agent reached a long term 8 year deal. Before putting pen to ink though Johnny's new wife convinced him to sign in the US and the next day he signed a 7 year deal with Columbus. I was upset, angry, and shocked! How could he leave? He was easily on pace to become the franchises greatest hockey player, surpassing every record in the books. Columbus?? They are terrible and have a small fan base. Wtf!! I resented my former favourite player for abandoning my team and putting his family values first, I was wrong. Johnny had become a new husband and was a soon to be dad, his family all in the US and his dad coming off a heart attack scare. During the pandemic players could not get back to their families across border, what if that happened again? After last nights tragedy so much has come out about how much Gaudreau still wished he was playing for Calgary. How he watched the Flames games whenever he could after he left. How he still constantly called friends in the media like Ryan Leslie almost every game. This was a guy who sacrificed what he wanted in his career for the sake of being with his family and that is amazing! I am beyond sad for his parents, his mom Jane and his dad Guy who became a celebrity in Calgary in his own right. His two sisters, one of whom was supposed to have her wedding today, I can't imagine. Especially for his wife Meredith and their two children, Noa age 2 and Johnny Jr, 5 months old.

Drunk drivers have had such an impact on my life, from my parents accident, my own accident, and now this tragedy. It is a senseless wreckless act and it is inexcusable. If you have been drinking find a safe way home!

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon Surfer

Never bike to the side of a lane, it is too dangerous.

Too many drivers drive vehicles that are too big for them, and they have no concept of where their vehicle is. If you are giving drivers enough space to try and squeeze past you in a lane, it is just a numbers game, someone will clip you. It is far safer to take the full lane and force drivers to pass properly instead of squeezing by.

I used to commute in Victoria BC to and from work by bike - it is a scary proposition when you are on the road with cars, even with bike lanes. Lots of people don't understand why some cyclists use the full lane - this is why. I admit I get frustrated when I'm stuck behind a while driving, but it is the safest way for them to cycle.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The video is a bit tamer than the description - I don't really see the big sigh and he wasn't acting like he was mad about the extended incarceration. Stunned more than anything. I suspect reality is gonna hit this dude hard.

But everyone should be preapred for this guy to get out on bail.

Yeah. It was a NY Post story, so I expected sensational, probably.

[devo22]

man, reading all this stuff about the driver is nauseating.

Investigators noticed he smelled of alcohol, and he told police that he had drank five to six beers before and while driving before the crash. Higgins also failed a field sobriety test.

Higgins told police he believed his drinking had led to his impatience and reckless driving that resulted in the crash, according to the criminal complaint.

“So…I’m here until Thursday?” Higgins asked Judge Michael J. Silvanio at one point during the proceedings.

When the judge explained that the usual 72-hour holding period was extended due to the holiday weekend, Higgins sat back in his chair and let out a heavy sigh.

Jesus ####ing Christ. #### this guy.

[Nyah]

I'm seeing that Matthew Gaudreau's wife is pregnant, due in 4 months.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

What posted on my FB profile today.

It's 2011 and I am on the Calgarypuck website checking who the team drafted through rounds 2-7 and I read with our 4th round pick we selected Johnny Gaudreau.

I had know idea who the hell this kid was but seeing his draft picture I am like wtf? This kid looks 8 years old and is about the same size! My second thought was he will never play in the NHL, a Chara fart would send this kid crashing into the boards. Why in the hell would the Flames draft such a tiny player as high as 4th?

I started researching his junior career and watched video I could find and it quickly became obvious why the Flames would take a gamble, his skill was off the charts.

I have always cheered for the little guy in hockey, my favourite all time player being Theo Fleury, a little ball of attitude and anger that he unleashed on the ice every night combined with a high skillset. I quickly became a big fan of Gaudreau before he even got a chance to play his first game in a Flames jersey at the Pentincton Classic.

When I watched his junior game I quickly saw he could survive in the NHL because his ability to turn on a dime combined with his edgework, shiftiness, and keeping himself out of vulnerable situations would allow him to do so. I watched him play at the World Juniors in 2013, absolutely dominating the the opposition and leading his team to gold.

Then the Classic where he also dominated, scoring highlight reel goals and torching the opposition. I remember the excitement of hearing he would play the final game of the 2013-2014 season to burn a year off his deal, he scored the only Flames goal that night on his first NHL shot. A star was being born.

There are way too many great memories to post here, the all star games, the hat trick against the Ducks to single handedly win the game after trailing going into the 3rd, all the ridiculous highlight reel plays he made. Also of course, the game winner against Dallas in game 7 OT.

On July 12th 2022 as Gaudreau was approaching possibly becoming a free agent the Flames and Gaudreau's agent reached a long term 8 year deal.

Before putting pen to ink though Johnny's new wife convinced him to sign in the US and the next day he signed a 7 year deal with Columbus. I was upset, angry, and shocked!

How could he leave?

He was easily on pace to become the franchises greatest hockey player, surpassing every record in the books. Columbus?? They are terrible and have a small fan base. Wtf!!

I resented my former favourite player for abandoning my team and putting his family values first, I was wrong.

Johnny had become a new husband and was a soon to be dad, his family all in the US and his dad coming off a heart attack scare.

During the pandemic players could not get back to their families across border, what if that happened again?

After last nights tragedy so much has come out about how much Gaudreau still wished he was playing for Calgary.

How he watched the Flames games whenever he could after he left. How he still constantly called friends in the media like Ryan Leslie almost every game. This was a guy who sacrificed what he wanted in his career for the sake of being with his family and that is amazing!

I am beyond sad for his parents, his mom Jane and his dad Guy who became a celebrity in Calgary in his own right.

His two sisters, one of whom was supposed to have her wedding today, I can't imagine. Especially for his wife Meredith and their two children, Noa age 2 and Johnny Jr, 5 months old.

Drunk drivers have had such an impact on my life, from my parents accident, my own accident, and now this tragedy. It is a senseless wreckless act and it is inexcusable.

If you have been drinking find a safe way home!

Beautifully said.

Quoted because people need to read it twice.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Nyah

I'm seeing that Matthew Gaudreau's wife is pregnant, due in 4 months.

####

[Rhett44]

The best Flames memory was the game 7 OT winner and how crazy it was and some fans chanting "Johnny" in the concourse after.

Met him once off the ice for a minute at a take out food place. And he paid for our meal without offering or making a show of it. The worker told us he had paid for everyone in lines meal and he had left by that point already when we found out.

Devastating.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I won't ride bicycles on roads with cars for the same reason I won't ride motorcycles here, I don't want to put my life into the hands of bad drivers. It's awful that you can do everything right as a rider but still end up dead because some jackass is drunk or not paying attention. Johnny and Matthew were hit only a few kilometers from where they grew up, they had probably biked that route countless times as kids. Didn't matter in the end how experienced they were though because of one selfish prick in his murder wagon

The highway that runs by my place, but it's just one lane each direction and it's 100 kph. A lot of the traffic is semis (less with the Ring Road now but still...) or other heavy vehicles and of course the rest are mostly pickups or SUVs. The shoulders are very wide and have a rumble strip. There's a ton of cyclists because it's a nice ride from Calgary to Bragg Creek. And I think it's not a matter of if, but when, some cyclist gets killed.

[2Stonedbirds]

Absolutely horrific. That poor family, what do you even say?
Can't believe it. Such sad news.

[Sainters7]

I was so mad at Johnny with the nature of how he left that I promised I would never wear his jersey again...I'm so glad I kept the jersey now. I'm going to wear it rollerblading tonight all around downtown. RIP, still stunned...it doesn't feel real.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by Nyah

I'm seeing that Matthew Gaudreau's wife is pregnant, due in 4 months.

Like this tragedy needed another layer..... I feel ill.

[Cube Inmate]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Already confirmed they canceled but it's not unheard of, for weddings to go ahead in the face of tragedy. Some couples/families take the time to honor those they lost. Very personal decision, regardless.

From a very similar personal experience, I can say just don't do it. All these years later, the memories are still tainted. We should have postponed.

[Azure]

Still really hard to believe.

I go back to work, come back read through more posts, think about the family, just really hard to grasp.

Sure appreciate all the people posting in this thread.