A year ago. A year ago a mother and father lost their two sons. Their two daughters lost their brothers. Two women lost their husbands. Two toddlers lost their father. Two unborn children lost their fathers and will never spend their lives with them. A year ago, the world today lost two excellent people.
In the past year I have trouble putting the impact Johnny Gaudreau has to do with me and to put the entire hockey world into words. When someone asks how I, a child from Vancouver, became BC, a fan of Calgary Flames, I tell them about the times that I first saw Johnny Hockey playing. At about five years old I watched his debut match against the Vancouver Canucks. When I first saw him skating on the ice that game, I was addicted. From that moment on I was a FLAMS fan for life, and Johnny was my favorite player.
Johnny on the ice
After years of difficulty and disappointment, Johnny rejuvenated the C of Red. He brought the flames back to relevance as a Phoenix that came out of the ashes. Since 2004, the Flames really have trouble reaching the same point where they once were. When Johnny Hockey came to the team, it was a relief for the fan base. They again looked at a superstar on the Roster.
As the primary playing driver on the Flames, Johnny let you turn on the TV or go to the Scotiabank Saddledome. All that culminated in one of the greatest moments of the life of every Flames fan. Johnny Gaudreau scored on the 67th shot of the game from a sharp angle. The third goal of the game beyond Jake Oettinger for a game seven Overtime winner. Joy. That was the emotion that happened to me and the whole C of red at that time.
Johnny van het Ice
However, his impact goes beyond the ice to the communities in Calgary, Columbus, and wherever he was. Words cannot express how much he helped for fans and the people he helped on the way. He supported the mental health of men by donating for every point he scored. He also donated the Archbishop Damiano School in New Jersey, a place where the Gaudreau family has strong ties. Every step of the road was his brother Matthew Gaudreau with him and gave something back.
His impact on me
Johnny was and will always be my role model, and I know I am not alone in that boat. He is who I want to be, someone who gives the people around him, especially his family. When it comes to hockey, he and my brother are the two most important people. My parents, who came to Canada in the late 90s and early 2000s, were never completely in hockey to my brother and me. Now it is most of me, with my life constantly turning around it, and I would not have it in any other way.
Forever, I will remember my first trip to Calgary, get a Johnny Gaudreau shirt from the team shop and wear it all day, every day. That is what Johnny meant for me.
For everything he has done, the number 13 must be placed in the trusses, forever immortals from Johnny.
To the Gaudreau family: the C van Red and the entire hockey world will always be there to support you. We will always be behind you and will help you honor the inheritance of the people who have done so much for us. Your sons, spouses, fathers and brothers were role models for all of us. Thank you for shaping them with us and for all the memories we will cherish forever.
Visit the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation. Read about the life of Johnny and Matthew and read about the good thing the foundation does. Tell your friends and family, spread awareness about it and donate if possible.
Never drink and never drive, your life is not the only one in danger.
Rest in Peace, Johnny and Matthew, you will be missed forever.
Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty images
Related
#year #Johnny #Gaudreau #Teerbeton