The feeling of practice was different when Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were on the rink. It changed when the two brothers laced up their skates.
During the three years that Jerry York coached Johnny at Boston College and the four years that he coached Matthew, he wished his players the best with, “Hey, let’s have a good practice today.”
The Gaudreau boys needed no encouragement.
“Johnny and Matt both brought so much excitement to practice,” York said in a phone call Friday morning, shortly after hearing the news that a car had struck and killed the brothers in Oldmans Township, N.J., Thursday night. “When those two guys stepped out on the ice, everything went up.”
That was the first thing that came to York’s mind, because he thought about Johnny and Matthew.
Johnny Gaudreau
August 13, 1993 – August 29, 2024 photo.twitter.com/QGPsV4v7mv— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 30, 2024
But so were other memories of the “inseparable couple,” who “became more than friends to everyone” they met, York said.
On Friday, he first thought of their parents, Guy and Jane, and he immediately texted them when he heard.
He recalled how, after moving to the NHL – first with the Calgary Flames and then with the Columbus Blue Jackets – Johnny stayed in touch with everyone, “whether it was a teammate on the fourth line or the equipment manager,” and always reached out to anyone asking for tickets.
He recalled his exceptionally close bond with teammate Kevin Hayes and the nights he spent with the Hayes family in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
And he remembered the years when Johnny and the Flames would visit him again and again whenever they were in Boston.
“We saw him all the time,” York said. “And Johnny was so inconspicuous. You would never pick him out if he walked into a room. You would never say, ‘This is an Olympic player.’ … He had so many great qualities that meant more to me than how well he could move the puck.”
Reactions to Johnny and Matthew’s deaths came from across the NHL and sports world as news spread Friday morning, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Johnny Gaudreau may be from the States, but hockey fans in Calgary and across Canada will remember him as one of us,” Trudeau tweeted.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James expressed his shock, to write on X: “May Johnny and Matthew fly high, guiding/guarding and blessing their family/families from the heavens above.”
“I’m sick to my stomach,” Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes said of losing Johnny, whom he coached at the world championship in May. “I had the pleasure of coaching Johnny several times with USA Hockey. Johnny was a great kid. Great person. Had a big heart. Teammates loved him. He loved the game and loved representing USA Hockey on the international stage. He will be missed as a person and a player. My thoughts and prayers to his wife and his family.”
Edmonton Oilers forward and former Flames teammate Derek Ryan said The Athletics: “I will always remember and cherish the years I got to play with Johnny in Calgary and with Team USA. His skills on the ice were astounding to watch and I know he inspired countless undersized hockey players to strive for greatness. I feel terrible 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 with 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 wrote: “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 missed 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. RIP Johnny and Matthew, fine young men with a beautiful family that seemed so close… gone far too soon. My condolences to the Gaudreau family and strength in their grief. 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 Johnny and his mother, Jane, and father, Guy. We were always trying to convince him to leave school early and go pro, and the whole time Johnny would look out the window of the conference room at the rink, his father would be running and staring longingly at the ice. Finally, I asked him if he would rather be there, and he gave me this big grin. I told him to go, and we would visit his mother, father and family counselor. His smile was infectious and he just loved the game. My heart is broken for his entire family, his wife, his young children and everyone who knew and loved him. The only comfort I can take is knowing that he and his brother have already found a shiny game in heaven. RIP Johnny Hockey. You will be greatly missed.”
Veteran hockey director Brian Burke shared his memories about X: “I was fortunate enough to have Johnny on the Calgary Flames and USA Hockey, and I can’t overstate 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 through the locker room every day.”
Johnny Gaudreau may have come from the United States, but hockey fans in Calgary and elsewhere in Canada will remember him as one of our own.
Today I’m thinking of my teammates, friends and the Gaudreau family.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 30, 2024
Grieving fans remembered the brothers from their childhood ice rink to the Saddledome in Calgary and Nationwide Arena in Columbus:
Flowers and a Gaudreau stick outside the Hollydell Ice Arena this morning photo.twitter.com/Zhv1U2wQuc
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) August 30, 2024
Some fans left flowers, Skittles and purple Gatorade at the Scotiabank Saddledome. I’m sure more tributes will follow as the day progresses. photo.twitter.com/QolV17Pl9p
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) August 30, 2024
The flowers are starting to come in @NationwideArenaWhere #CBJ fans pay their respects to Johnny Gaudreau. It’s hard to imagine how many more hundreds will be in the arena as the day progresses. photo.twitter.com/ivg425YK4q
— CBJ Stats (@BlueJacketStats) August 30, 2024
(Photo of Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau celebrating Boston College’s 2014 Beanpot Championship: Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images)
