An emotional and beautiful tribute plays out in Calgary for Johnny Gaudreau

UPDATE 2: The Calgary Flames organization has put on an absolutely beautiful tribute for brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau this evening. The entire Gaudreau family including Johnny's parents, sisters, wife Meredith and children Noa and Johnny Jr. are all in attendance this evening and all took part in a beautiful pre-game ceremony.

Prior to the ceremony though, players on both teams took warmup wearing #13 Gaudreau jerseys.

Check it out:

Johnny's family then took to the ice for a ceremonial face-off featuring Flames captain Mikael Backlund and Johnny's best friend Sean Monahan.

Check it out:

An absolutely beautiful moment in what has been a heartbreaking season for the Gaudreau family.

Read below for our earlier reports on this special game.

UPDATE: An update to yesterday's report on today's 'Johnny Gaudreau Memorial Game' in Calgary between the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Gaudreau's wife Meredith Gaudreau has given an emotional interview with Sportsnet's Ryan Leslie prior to tonight's action.

Check it out:

I've got to say... this woman is so incredibly strong.

She could hide away from cameras and the media for the rest of her life and no one would blame her for it. Instead she's putting herself out there to preserve her husband's memory. That's what real love looks like.

Johnny Hockey forever!

For our earlier report on the Gaudreau's return to Calgary, read below.

Jane Gaudreau, mother of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, announced last week that she and her husband Guy Gaudreau will be in Calgary tomorrow night when the Calgary Flames welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

“We are deeply grateful to the Flames organization for inviting us back,” said Jane to Flames insider Eric Francis. “Guy and I, along with our entire family, are looking forward to reconnecting with many friends in Calgary," Jane said while adding that things have been tough for her family lately, especially with the holidays coming up.

Today, Guy took to the ice with the Calgary Flames for practice ahead of tomorrow night's game. The Blue Jackets and Guy's hometown Philadelphia Flyers have extended offers in the past, all in an effort to make him and his family feel welcomed in the NHL's inner circle.

Today, while taking a twirl around the ice with the Flames, goaltender Dan Vladar revealed his mask which features a tribute to Johnny on it.

Check it out:

And here's a closer look at the mask:

How good is that!?

The mask will make its official debut tomorrow night, when you just know that Johnny Hockey will be looking down on his former teammates and his former home rink in Calgary.

“Many of our fondest memories were in Calgary,” sayys Jane. “It’s where we watched John grow from a college student into a remarkable young man, and as parents we are so incredibly proud.

“We are so thankful for the time we’ve spent in this wonderful city, and look forward to seeing everyone again.”

It's expected that the Flames will hold a pre-game memorial for Gaudreau and today the team unveiled an initiative that will see them take the 229 hockey sticks left at the makeshift memorial for Johnny outside the Scotiabank Saddledome and re-purpose them into benches for local Calgary-area arenas.

Check it out:

UPDATE: The Flames have officially unveiled the benches to the Gaudreau family!

Again... how good is that!?!?

The Flames have been nothing but class lately.

An emotional and beautiful tribute plays out in Calgary for Johnny Gaudreau

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