Photo of Flames fans holding up lights in memory of the Gaudrau brothers / Photo credit Keith Driver
The news of the tragic deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau sent shockwaves through the hockey community with fans of the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets creating memorials at each arena.
Many fans had been visiting the memorial as their way of saying goodbye to a beloved player by leaving flowers, jerseys, poems, purple sport drinks, and Gaudreau’s favorite snack, skittles.
On Wednesday September 4, a candlelight vigil was held at the Saddledome with fans from all over a thousand people gathered to show their support for the Gaudrau family.
It wasn’t just Flames fans attending the vigil, fans of other teams including Alberta rival the Edmonton Oilers in the Calgary area have been sharing their love for a player who’ve given their team a run for their money in the 2022 NHL Playoff season.
Oilers Fan Keenan Sakora has been attending the memorial with a message of how the loss of a player still has an impact on members of a fans who are often at odds with one another.
Photo of Oilers fan Keenan Skora at the Gaudreau candlelight vigil / Photo credit Keith Driver
Johnny Hockey Gaudrau played eight full seasons with the flames and still holds the fifth top all-time scoring list in the franchise’s history.
Because this impact he had on the bench but also off the bench with his involvement in the community of Calgary, many in the C of Red are calling for the number 13 to be retired and place in the rafters with other Flames legends.
Flames fan John Trithart shared why he believes Gaudrau’s number should be retired from the franchise.
The memorial the Gaudrau brothers will remain for the next 13 days and fans who wish to share words and memories of Johnny Gaudrau can find a digital guest book on the Calgary Flames official website.
See photos from the vigil below:
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