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Remembering Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau: ‘Those two guys … elevated everything’

Robert Melton

The feeling before practice was different once Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were at the rink. It changed as the two brothers tied their skates.

For the three years Jerry York coached Johnny at Boston College and the four he had Matthew, he’d wish his players well with, “Hey, let’s have a good practice today.”

The Gaudreau boys never needed the encouragement.

“Johnny and Matt both brought so much excitement to practice,” York said on a Friday morning phone call shortly after hearing the news that a car struck and killed the brothers in Oldmans Township, N.J., on Thursday night. “The minute those two guys stepped on the ice it just elevated everything.”

That was front of mind for York as he remembered Johnny and Matthew.

But so too were other memories of the “inseparable pair,” who became “more than friends to everyone” they met, according to York.

He thought first on Friday of their parents, Guy and Jane, texting them as soon as he heard.

He remembered how after moving onto the NHL — first with the Calgary Flames and then the Columbus Blue Jackets — Johnny stayed in touch with everyone, “whether it was a fourth-line teammate or the equipment manager,” always reaching out and accommodating anyone who asked for tickets.

He remembered his particularly close relationship with teammate Kevin Hayes and the nights spent at the Hayes family home in Dorchester, Mass.

And he remembered the years of return visits whenever Johnny and the Flames were in Boston.

“We saw him an awful lot,” York said. “And Johnny was so unimposing. You’d never pick him out when he walked into a room. You’d never say, ‘This is an Olympic player.’ … There were so many great qualities about him that meant more to me than how well he could move a puck around.”

Reaction to the deaths of Johnny and Matthew came from around the NHL and sports world as the news spread on Friday morning, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Johnny Gaudreau may have come up from the States, but hockey fans in Calgary, and across Canada, will remember him as one of our own,” Trudeau tweeted.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James expressed his shock, writing on X: “May Johnny and Matthew fly high, guide/guard and bless their family/s from the heavens above.”

“I am sick to my stomach,” Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes said of the loss of Johnny, who he coached at the World Championship in May. “I had the opportunity to coach Johnny several times with USA Hockey. Johnny was a great kid. Personable. Had a big heart. Teammates loved him. He loved the game and loved to represent USA Hockey on the international stage. He will be missed as a person and player. Thoughts and prayers for his wife and his family.”

Edmonton Oilers forward and former Flames teammate Derek Ryan told The Athletic: “I’ll always remember and cherish the years that I got to play with Johnny in Calgary and with Team USA. His ability on the ice was amazing to behold, and I know that he’s inspired innumerable small, undersized hockey players to strive for greatness. I feel horrible for Meredith, his two young children and the entire Gaudreau family. Life just isn’t fair sometimes. In my mind, Johnny Hockey is looking down on his family now wearing a pair of heavenly hockey skates. The legend of Johnny Hockey will never be forgotten.”

Blake Coleman posted a photo with Johnny on Instagram and captioned it, “It’s hard to find the words so I’ll keep it short. One of the best guys to be around, always had that big smile on your face and never passed up a good time.”

Jarmo Kekäläinen, the former Columbus general manager who signed Johnny, tweeted: “I am deeply saddened by the news I received late last night. R.I.P. Johnny and Matthew, fine young men with beautiful family that seemed so close … gone way too soon. My condolences to the Gaudreau family and strength in their sorrow. This is devastating.”

Jay Feaster, the former Flames general manager who drafted Johnny, said in a statement: “I am heartbroken by this tragic news. I will always remember Johnny from the offseasons when Craig Conroy and I would make our annual trip to New Jersey to meet with Johnny and his mom, Jane, and Dad, Guy. We always tried to convince him to leave school early and turn pro, and the entire time Johnny would look out the window of the meeting room at the rink his dad ran and stare longingly at the ice. Finally, I would ask if he would prefer to be out there, and he give me that big grin. I would tell him to go ahead, and we would visit with his mom and dad and family adviser. His smile was infectious, and he just loved playing the game. My heart is broken for his entire family, his wife, his young children and all of us who knew him and loved him. The one thing I take some comfort in is knowing he and his brother have already found a shinny game in Heaven. RIP Johnny Hockey. You will be greatly missed.”

Longtime hockey exec Brian Burke also shared his memories on X: “I was lucky enough to have Johnny with the Calgary Flames and with USA Hockey, and it cannot be overstated just what a joy it was for everyone involved to have Johnny Gaudreau on their team. … What I will remember most was his happiness, enthusiasm, and kindness that radiated out through the locker room every day.”

Grieving fans memorialized the brothers, from their childhood rink to the Saddledome in Calgary and Nationwide Arena in Columbus:

(Photo of Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau celebrating Boston College’s Beanpot Championship in 2014: Richard T. Gagnon / Getty Images)

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