Behind-the-scenes footage of Guy Gaudreau’s postgame speech in Flames’ dressing room

On Tuesday night, the Calgary Flames hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets in what was the first game between the two teams since the tragic passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew at the end of August. The Flames decided to take the opportunity to honour Johnny Hockey, whom both franchises shared throughout his career.

The two teams had a ceremonial puck drop with members of the Gaudreau’s family in attendance, with Flames’ captain Mikael Backlund and Blue Jackets’ center Sean Monahan taking the face-off. The players were not only teammates of Johnny Gaudreau for all nine seasons that he spent in Calgary, but are also close friends of the family. Monahan had even signed as a free agent in Columbus this summer, looking forward to playing once again with his best friend.

This had to have been an emotional night for everyone involved. The Flames went on to win Tuesday’s game 3-0 over the Blue Jackets, and Gaudreau was named the first star of the game.

After the game, Guy Gaudreau made his way to the Flames’ dressing and took the time to congratulate all the players for their victory. He shook hands with everyone in the room and then went on to deliver an emotional speech on how he knows how hard the past months have been and how impressed he is with Johnny’s friends still playing and performing for fans the way they have been. The Flames filmed the special behind the scenes moment and shared it on social media. Watch below:

Johnny Gaudreau was a fourth-round pick for the Flames in the 2011 NHL draft and made his NHL debut in Calgary’s final game of the 2013-14 regular season, scoring a goal in the game. He went on to win a Lady Byng trophy in 2016-17, before he left to free agency in order to play for an NHL team closer to his family in 2022, signing a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets.

Gaudreau only played two years of it before his passing. He and his brother Matthew died on August 29th, 2024 while the two were visiting New Jersey on the eve of their sister’s wedding. They were biking through Oldmans Township when they were struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver.

Johnny Gaudreau played in 763 regular season games across 11 seasons, accumulating 243 goals and 500 assists for 743 points. He also had 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in 42 playoff games. His wife Meredith, who also attended the game and ceremony, is pregnant with the couple’s third child as the couple shared daughter Noa and son Johnny. Johnny was 31 years old at the time of his death, while Matthew was 29. Matthew Gaudreau’s wife, Madeline, is also expecting a child, the couple’s first, a son due this month, who will be named Tripp.