Crowd in tears at Johnny Gaudreau candlelight vigil

The Columbus Blue Jackets remembered Johnny Gaudreau as a teammate and friend earlier on Wednesday in a moving press conference. During that time, workers were setting up for a candlelight vigil that was held outside at Nationwide Arena in the evening.

Teammates, including captain Boone Jenner, defenseman Erik Gudbranson and forward Cole Sillinger, spoke and gave beautiful tributes for Johnny, and his brother Matthew. They tragically passed away in a terrible incident last week. It occurred on Thursday evening when Sean Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, New Jersey, was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee north on County Route 551 and attempted to overtake another vehicle. He struck the Gaudreau brothers, both riding bicycles alongside one another on the shoulder side of the road. Johnny and Matthew were pronounced dead at the scene. Police reports say Higgins was intoxicated and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide.

In his speech, Gudbranson, who had done so earlier in the press conference, once again begged anyone who is considering driving under the influence to find another way home.

The team then held a moment of silence, 13 minutes and 21 seconds, in honour of Johnny and Matthews’ numbers, for a time of prayer and reflection.

Many players, executives and people attending were in tears for this special tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
The vigil was broadcasted on the Blue Jackets’ YouTube channel and when attendees were asked to light their candle, GM Don Waddell explained how people who could not attend are able to take part on the team’s app and its virtual candle.

The moment of silence went past 13:21 as everyone kept watching the slide show and honouring Johnny and Matthew. The vigil ended with bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace.”

IN CALGARY

The Calgary Flames also mourned the loss of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau at a vigil on Wednesday night, which included a 13-minute vigil just after sunset and speakers from the club.

Flames players, Lanny McDonald, Craig Conroy and others assembled on the steps of the Dome at the start of the vigil.

Many hockey fans have been coming to the Saddledome since Thursday, leaving flowers, jerseys, purple Gatorade and Skittles to honour “Johnny Hockey.”

Thousands of fans attended the event at the Saddledome in Calgary.

The legendary Lanny MacDonald gave a great speech about Johnny and Matthew, and was followed by Flames veteran Mikael Backlund, who couldn’t hold his tears as he told stories off the ice about his buddy Johnny, and his young brother Matthew.

General manager Craig Conroy was too emotional, as he cherishes the bond he had with Johnny and the Gaudeau family. He shared some stories of before Johnny Gaudreau was selected by the Flames in 2011. He joked about his small stature, but praised his talent and his heart. The GM also spoke about Johnny's friendship with former Flames teammate Sean Monahan, who signed as a free agent in Columbus in order to play again with his best friend. 

“This is what makes me proud to be a Calgarian and is what made Johnny so proud of this city," Conroy said on a night in which Calgary did the Gaudreau’s proud.

The vigil was moving, and online, more than 30 000 people watched the live stream. We all wanted to be there to support the Flames as we keep the Gaudreau family in our hearts.

Rest in peace Johnny and Matthew.