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“I used to be simply actually proud to be a part of town.”
Like the remainder of the Calgary Flames and everybody within the hockey world, Blake Coleman has been grieving the lack of former teammate Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, who have been killed by an alleged drunk driver whereas using their bikes on Aug. 29.
And whereas that means of grief is ongoing, Coleman and the remainder of the Flames have been in a position to take consolation in watching the way in which Calgary hockey followers have rallied to indicate their love and help for the Gaudreaus and their households.
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The response was much more transferring as a result of followers had put apart any lingering animosity about Gaudreau’s choice to check in free company with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022 after a decade with the Flames.
It was greater than hockey. 1000’s of followers confirmed up at a candlelight vigil final week and an enormous memorial of flowers, purple Gatorade, Skittles and memorabilia has been created by Calgarians on the steps of the Saddledome.
“I’m simply pleased with the response,” stated Coleman, who attended the Gaudreau brothers funeral on Monday in Media, Pa., earlier than flying again to be on the Calgary Flames Movie star Charity Golf Traditional. “The way in which issues ended with Johnny right here, individuals might have been bitter or had their causes to not come and rally and help, however the metropolis confirmed up in waves.
“I wasn’t on the town but (for the candlelight vigil), however watching it from afar, it was fairly stunning to witness the quantity of uplifting they have been doing for the Gaudreau household and (Johnny’s spouse) Meredith. It’s a kind of issues the place you place your ego away and also you understand life is far more vital than sports activities.”
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Each degree of the Flames group has been touched by the tragedy and help is being provided for gamers and employees alike. Therapeutic will take time and grief may be unpredictable.
Flames captain Mikael Backlund, who performed with Gaudreau all through his total time in Calgary, spoke candidly and movingly about his longtime teammate ultimately week’s candlelight vigil.
It was an extremely troublesome factor for Backlund to do, however like Coleman, he stated there’s been consolation to be present in the way in which Flames followers have risen up in unison to help the household of the famous person who gave them so many unimaginable reminiscences on the Saddledome.
“It was a wonderful night time,” Backlund stated of the vigil. “It was very laborious, nevertheless it was stunning to see so many individuals present up and present help for Johnny and his household and Matthew. It was stunning to see everybody activate their telephones and their lights, I do know lots of people have been upset when Johnny left however to only neglect about that and bear in mind how huge he was for town and the way nice he was on and off the ice, it’s been nice to see how a lot help and love he’s gotten.”
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Every one of many Flames gamers appears to have tales about Gaudreau. Jonathan Huberdeau by no means performed with Gaudreau, however smiled as he recalled hanging out with him at Andrew Mangiapane’s marriage ceremony this summer season.
Martin Pospisil remembered being stunned that Gaudreau needed to speak with him and ask him questions the primary time they skated collectively just a few summers in the past. Pospisil was an up-and-coming prospect with no NHL video games to his title, whereas Gaudreau was one of many sport’s largest stars.
Ryan Lomberg, who performed 11 video games for the Flames in 2017-18 and the next season, had the same expertise.
“There’s simply so many individuals that Johnny impacted,” Lomberg stated. “I do know, for myself personally, everyone has been speaking about what a terrific particular person and teammate he’s been and I’ve had the very same expertise with him. After I got here up, as a no one, he was a famous person and he took the time to make me really feel snug nearly greater than anyone. That simply sums up the kind of man he was.
“The connection I had with him, I clearly appeared as much as him tremendously. He was a famous person on this league for the Flames on the time and for him to make me really feel snug as a child that was simply trying to get a few video games and make his dream come true, it was fairly particular and positively essential to me.”
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The method of honouring Gaudreau is much from over in Calgary. There will probably be tributes on the Saddledome this season and, absolutely, the Flames will take into account retiring his quantity 13 when the time is true and his household is prepared.
Already, although, town has proven its love and help.
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And through an extremely troublesome time for the gamers and everybody with the staff, that has supplied some consolation.
“That’s what he meant to town. That was Johnny. He’s ‘Johnny Hockey.’ He’s any individual particular within the sport,” Huberdeau stated. “For just a little man, he impressed so many individuals, you may nonetheless have an opportunity to play within the NHL even at a smaller top. That’s what he did. Simply unhappy it occurred. Can’t even describe it with phrases.
“You’ll be able to see how he impacted town of Calgary and the those who rallied and the candlelight vigil, I had goosebumps watching that. We’re by no means going to deliver him again, nevertheless it’s one thing we are able to all do, to be there for his legacy.”
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