Came across the full video of Guy and Jane Gaudreau's last visit to Calgary in 2022, after Johnny got his 100th point. Great interview with Ryan Dittrick and Brendan Parker:
Remember in warm up how Johnny would always stand by the blueline and flip a puck up on his stick and then toss it up and catch it on his stick? He'd go higher and higher, having the time of his life. Guys would try to outdo him or mess him up, all in good fun. It's an odd memory but it'll always stick with me.
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The Flames drafted Johnny a month before I moved to Taiwan. I remember the photo of him in the anthem line up for Dubuque; thinking: there’s no way that tiny kid will make it.
Followed him through all the BC years as I established a life overseas, built a new career, lived in Cambodia for a year. Watched him exceed expectations at every level. Could he not only play but … produce?
He joined the Flames and I was so proud of him and the team. That goal he scored against Dallas… I have a post about how the Flames NEVER get that goal, but he got it for us.
Just a few weeks before he decided to leave for Columbus, I proposed to my now wife, which I knew meant the end of my time living in Asia. He left for Ohio, and I packed up and emigrated to the US.
Just as I finish the green card process and start my career here, he’s gone. For me, he will forever be linked to these years of my life, avoiding looking at scores during the day so I could watch his games in the evening without knowing what happened.
My heart breaks for his whole family. No one will ever be #13 in Calgary again.
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He’s the only Flame I have watched that when he got the puck I always thought something special was going to happen. He made it fun to watch the Flames. Johnny could do things I had never seen before.
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Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
Exp:
Johnny was one of those players that could bring a fan out of his seat. I marveled at the things he could do with the puck and the plays he made. He was loved by the Flames community, and we were all saddened when he chose to sign with Columbus.
As a smaller dude, I always admired Johnny, the fact that he achieved his dreams and was playing in the NHL. I still remember going insane watching him score in game 7 against Dallas. I hope he has all the ham & cheese sandwiches, skittles and purple gatorade he can drink.
Johnny was our answer to McDavid, he was the guy who was never supposed to make it but through sheer grit and determination he defied all odds.
He’s the only Flame I have watched that when he got the puck I always thought something special was going to happen. He made it fun to watch the Flames. Johnny could do things I had never seen before.
Yep, Fluery then Iginla, then Gaudreau. All three had that "yes, he's on the ice, something is going happen now" air to them.
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Yep, Fluery then Iginla, then Gaudreau. All three had that "yes, he's on the ice, something is going happen now" air to them.
Kent Nilsson had it too, when he was playing his best. It's such a pity that his best scared him so much (based on what Peter Maher and others have said). There was something in his head that said a good Swedish kid should not draw that much attention to himself.
I'm glad Johnny Gaudreau never had that in his head, or if he did, never listened to it. He let his light shine bright, and I thank him for that.
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My favorite hockey player of all time. Absolutely gut wrenching.
I choose to reflect and remember all of the great memories I've had watching him play hockey. Infectious, joyful hockey player to watch. Always smiling, lifting up the spirits of his teammates.
2014-15. Johnny's rookie season. This year would be known for the cardiac kids, or comeback kids. 13 come from behind victories. (There's an AC video somewhere of all the comebacks). Third periods were crazy! Even an Ottawa 4 goal lead wasn't safe.The team wasn't supposed to be good, but the comeback wins kept mounting and mounting, and they'd even sneak into the playoffs and beat a crappy Vancouver team. Johnny finishes 3rd in Calder voting. As fans, there is real hope in the air again.
2018-19. Johnny, Mony, Lindholm, Giordano. Career years for them all, and we won the Western Conference! People will mostly remember losing to Colorado in 5 games, but that was a magical season from basement dweller to top of the mountain. Nightly dangles and bad angle snipes, everything was working. The flames finish second in the league in Goals For, over 3.5 goals a game. The beginning of the Purple Gatorade, boring Sean Monahan, debates about which of our 4 superstars was the best. Johnny finishes 4th in MVP voting after finishing with 99 pts.
2021-22. Johnny, Lindholm, Tkachuk "Best line in Hockey". Darryl Sutter "Unfinished Business". Johnny finishes 4th in MVP voting again after 119 pts and leading the league in even strength points. Of course who could forget the incredible, gruelling playoff series against brick wall Jake Oettinger. At the end of it, Game 7, overtime, Johnny is responsible for the greatest Calgary Flames moment in the last 20 years.
Thanks for everything you've done for this city. You'll be missed.
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Listening all day on the radio and barn burner, reading through every post, and going through a rollercoaster of emotions, he has given all of us one of the most beautiful gifts anyone could. Brought all of us together and show us how important family is and how fragile life is.
How to appreciate the good times and come together to seek comfort and support during the tough times.
From being able to tune into Barnburner and feel like I was sitting at a table with my friends/family both trying to make sense of this while talking about the good times, to the fan where they could barely choke together words, I felt everything feeling in the book today except for being alone.
Thank you to every single one of you, and in this deep darkness, there is something very special and amazing happening. That 1000 watt smile.
Thank you John, for everything. We couldn’t not have asked for anyone better to be in our lives and leave such a positive mark on it.
We will all miss you.
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