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The Saddledome Arena in Calgary was transformed into a makeshift memorial site as fans gathered to pay tribute to former Flames superstar Johnny Gaudreau.
Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed after being struck by a suspected drunk driver while cycling near their hometown in New Jersey on Thursday.
Outside the arena, fans have created a sea of flowers, photos, bottles of purple Gatorade and other mementos in honor of Gaudreau's life and storied nine-year career with the Flames organization.
Watch the video here:
Many fans donned Gaudreau's iconic #13 Flames jersey as they came to reflect and grieve the loss of their beloved player.
Former Calgary Flames mascot Okotokian Jeff Schaller discussed the tragic deaths of Johnny and his brother.
"We lost a great guy. He was Johnny Hockey. The American who made a difference to so many Canadians. He bring us all a lot of joy. He scored a lot of good goals for us," said Schaller to The Albertan.
Tribute to Johnny Gaudreau at Saddledome moves fans
Calgary fans tribute to former star Johnny Gaudreau at the Saddledome has sparked an outpouring of emotion from fans.
Social media platforms were flooded with reactions, with many praising the gesture. One fan wrote:
"Very classy gesture Calgary. We will never forget the years Johnny Hockey gave to our Flames!"
Another reflected:
"This is how you know you won at life. It's not by what you had, or what you did, it's by how you are remembered."
Here are some fan reactions:
"Just when I thought I had no more tears left today. We will miss you kid," one fan wrote on X.
"Can we name a section or a side of the new Arena after Johnny Gaudreau? It would be awesome if fans and future fans can always remember the greatness that was Johnny Hockey, and what he meant to our City, and Team!," another fan wrote.
"The Purple Gatorade breaks me more but also makes me smile, cause it means we never forgot what he did for us," a user commented.
"Incredible fan base. Such a tragic and senseless loss. Rest easy Johnny and Matthew," another user wrote.
The tribute served as a reminder of Gaudreau's impact on the franchise and the city.
