Shock was the first feeling I had when I turned on the radio this morning. Fan590 out of Toronto was leading with the news that Johnny Gaudreau and his brother were killed.
Growing up in Southern Ontario, you are generally born and raised in a blanket of Blue and White. This means that players on other teams have to be very good to get much, if any, airtime in the GTA.
Gaudreau was one of those unique talents.
Only a few times during his near decade as a Calgary Flame did he visit ScotiaBank Centre in Toronto. His ability to pass the puck seamlessly made headlines before he got there.
He was the type of player everyone played for, and he was also the type of player all the other teams planned for.
Over his career, hours of commentary were spent from coast to coast talking about him. Even if you were a fringe hockey fan, you knew about him and what he meant to the Flames and Blue Jackets.
So, what does one do when you hear of such a tragedy?
Many lifelong hockey fans, even those who are not super connected to Johnny Hockey, will be saddened. Some, including myself, will get angry, and even more, will hopefully hug their families a little closer today.
As he said in his open letter to Flames fans, he moved away from Calgary to be closer to his family.
“As much as I love hockey … family is everything to me. It’s the most important connection I have. And a few years ago, I think I started to realize how much you sacrifice when you give 100 per cent to your career,” said Gaudreau. “I felt like I needed to do more to centre my family in my life after we experienced some hard times.”
Many of us can understand the pull that has on any individual. Some of us here in Lloyd, myself included, live a long way from family, it can be challenging at times.
Knowing it was the main reason he left didn’t make it easier. The hole he left within the Flames family and the City of Calgary is immense. Many hoped it would only be temporary. A sick twist of fate means a re-unification will never happen.
A quick read through Calgary’s social media today shows he will always be integral to the Flames story.
The overwhelming responses everywhere you turn today are speechless, heartbroken, and forever remembered.
Versions of keeping his family, his sisters, one of which was getting married this weekend, in our thoughts are also expressed widely in response to this tragedy.
Gaudreau expressed his gratefulness to the Flames for believing in him. His last words of that letter will now forever stand immortal in Calgary.
“I hope the people of Calgary can remember me not only as a hockey player but also as a good person with good values.”
Today, Johnny Hockey, not only is Calgary remembering, but everyone in the hockey world is, too.
I hope everyone holds their family tighter tonight; tomorrow is never a given. Pick up the phone, text, and use social media to tell those you love you are thinking of them.
I know I will.
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