Hockey has always been a part of my life since the day I was born. My dad told me as soon as I was able to think I chose the Calgary Flames as my team. It took until I was nine years old in 2016 for me to fully get into it. I remember watching my first NHL game in my parents’ bedroom. It was early into the 2016–17 season. The only player I knew that was related to the Flames was Jarome Iginla so I needed to find my favourite. And It didn’t take long for me to find my favourite player because by the end of that game, I had one.
Johnny Gaudreau
The shiftiness of his game, his pure offensive domination, his quick hands, his fun play style, his ability to carry a whole team while the offence runs through him, everything. I was so enamoured by his talent. Scoring in the game helped too. From that game on I was hooked with Johnny Gaudreau and the Flames. Johnny Gaudreau was the reason I fell in love with the sport of hockey.
With this newfound love, it became a part of my life. At some points, it was my life. Every night I would tune into the Flames game and each time my jaw would drop from Gaudreau’s play. All my parents heard about was Gaudreau and the Flames.
I wanted to get a Flames jersey so badly. Where I live it was hard to find one. When I finally did find one I had to face the harsh reality that I was nine and couldn’t afford it. That was a tough day. A few months go by and it’s my 10th birthday. I wake up and am ready to open my presents before I go to school. I reach into one of my gifts from my parents and feel fabric. I’ve never opened a present faster in my life. I pull out my first-ever Flames jersey. And what’s on the back? Gaudreau’s name and #13. I was so excited I wore it all day, probably all week.
The years pass and my life is changing but the enjoyment Gaudreau brings me is a mainstay. As an athlete, you face constant criticism and Johnny was no exception. Media or fans would say things but I just couldn’t bring myself to say anything negative. If he brings me countless joy, why should I judge an off-game or season?
The 2018–19 season was a blast watching the Flames be first in the west and Gaudreau be near the top of the league for what I believe was the first time since I had begun watching. I felt like finally what I was seeing was ending up on the scoresheet. When he had 99 points with two games to go I was so certain he was going to hit 100. When he didn’t I was crushed. Anything that involved Johnny felt deep to me. His winning the Lady Byng in 2017 felt like him winning the Hart to me. His winning All-Star games and competitions were so important to me.
After 2018–19 followed a few rougher years for both the team and Johnny. But then came the glorious 2021–22 season. This season is the most fun I’ve ever had watching hockey. Every night I felt like I was dancing with how much fun and happiness I would have—grinning ear to ear almost every game. Johnny that season was special. I genuinely don’t think I’ve seen another player like him that season.
He was purely dominant, no one could touch him. He could dangle through the entire opposing team, cycle the zone all by himself, consistently get highlight reel passes, and fire lasers into the back of the net, so special. The best line in hockey, one of the best in history was centred around him. He turned Elias Lindholm into a point-per-game centre, he helped Matthew Tkachuk become who he is today. The line broke records. A team just outside the league’s top five, it was looking like I was going to see my first Flames playoff series win.
The Dallas Stars are the matchup in the first round. The Flames were heavily favoured and it relied on their top guys showing up. And they showed up. Years of going to the fences for Johnny in the playoffs had finally paid off as he dominated the series. He dominated enough to be up there with Connor McDavid as the best playoff performance in a series analytically. The series was ultimately pushed to Game 7. And everyone knows how Game 7 went.
Gaudreau in front, feeds a pass to Lindholm, stopped by Oettinger, took it up high, Gaudreau SCORES!
Cheers. And then tears. The last time I was fully happy. I cried so many happy tears I couldn’t stop them. I finally watched the Flames make it past the first round. And it was because of Johnny Gaudreau.
The next round against the Edmonton Oilers didn’t go as well. The positives were that Johnny still dominated and he scored in what ended up being his very last game as a Flame.
That summer was a rollercoaster. All the rumours surrounding Gaudreau. Is he staying or is he leaving? Even coming up to the final days, things weren’t clear. Everyone was waiting for an answer and then Elliotte Friedman tweeted saying Gaudreau was testing free agency. I cried instantly. And then Frank Seravalli’s tweet made me cry harder. My childhood, gone.
When he officially signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, I could’ve been bitter, I could’ve hated him, but I just couldn’t. He made my childhood so fun, so great. He earned the right to free agency. Columbus was also a team that needed that boost and has amazing fans. I swore that I would continue to follow his career despite the team switch. Everything about him stayed the same except that I didn’t watch him every night.
Johnny meant and will continue to mean so much to me
He was the player I pretended to be in the driveway and he was the player I wore on the back for both games I’ve gone to.
Falling in love with hockey has done so much good to my life. And that wouldn’t have happened without him.
Gaudreau saved hockey in Calgary. Without him, the Flames may no longer be around and many of us would be left without a team.
I have met people through hockey that are some of the best people I have ever met. The people I have placed myself with are so welcoming and kind. I have received opportunity and opportunity to make a name for myself and better myself overall in the hockey space.
I’m going into my last year of high school so sooner or later I’ll have to choose a major and a career. I guarantee that whatever I choose can be linked back to hockey in some way. It has been the gateway to so many of my interests, and so many of my hobbies. I’ve unlocked skills I didn’t even know I had.
One of my and my dad’s biggest bonds is over hockey. We’ll sit down and watch games together regardless of teams. We’ll talk about the trades and signings. He’ll ask for my opinion on certain things and he takes my opinion with high value. My whole family is proud of me for the stuff I’ve done that involves hockey.
Watching Johnny play hockey for the Flames saved me from depressive states. Multiple times. Because having that one positive in my life gave me that push to have happiness in my life and he was that one positive.
If Johnny Gaudreau doesn’t play for the Calgary Flames, all of this is different. I wish I could’ve met him to say thank you and let him know how much he did for me just by playing for my favourite team.
No one should wear #13 for the Calgary Flames ever again. Johnny Gaudreau should be celebrated for decades because I know I’m not the only one he has impacted like this.
Thank you, Johnny.
May you and your brother Matty rest in peace.
