As the terrible morning wore on, fans began arriving at the Saddledome.
One by one, they paid quiet tributes to Johnny Gaudreau, who had created so many magical memories at the old Calgary rink.
They dropped off purple Gatorade and bouquets of flowers. One fan left a jersey, and another solemnly placed a little Johnny Hockey doll down on the steps.
Calgarians were looking to find any way to pay tribute to the man who brought so much joy to the city’s hockey community for almost a decade.
They needed to do something.
“I think it was just that I need his family to know how important he was and still is to the city of Calgary and to Calgary Flames fans,” said Diane Barron, who brought flowers and her little dog Mac — wearing a Flames jersey. “It’s really all we can do. What else can we do? It’s just devastating.
“His parents, I just always loved watching them cheer here and his sisters, they just had so much love and pride for their whole family and for the City of Calgary. I can’t imagine what they’re going through.”
Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed on Thursday night by a suspected drunk driver while they were riding their bikes in Salem County, N.J.
It’s an unspeakable tragedy that left many Calgarians searching for ways to show their appreciation, not only for the player who is fifth all-time in points scored for the Flames, but also for the family who loved and supported him throughout his rise.
Sam House, who dropped off the doll, loved watching Gaudreau just like every Flames fan.
But he had a personal connection, too.
House’s wife is from New Jersey, like Gaudreau, and they were lucky enough to run into the budding superstar years ago at a house party.
“He was hilarious. I met him at a house in New Jersey and I let him know I was from Calgary and it was great to see him playing for the Flames,” House said. “I was living in Philadelphia at the time, so obviously not far from New Jersey, and he took the time to take me aside at a house party and he called Mark Giordano on FaceTime.
‘He was like ‘Hey Gio, I’ve got a fan here from Calgary’ and that was the first time I ever met him. He made me feel welcome and showed love to the other Flames and got me on the phone with Mark Giordano, too.”
Not every Flames fan was as fortunate as House and got to spend actual face-to-face time with Gaudreau, but there was still a unique connection that seemed to form between Calgarians and their hockey hero.
Even after he left and joined the Columbus Blue Jackets in the summer of 2022, the boos that greeted his return to the Saddledome didn’t pack the same vitriol as those that have met other players.
How could they, after all Gaudreau had given the city and their hockey fans?
It hurt to see him go and fans boo when that happens, but there was still appreciation.
And on Friday, Calgary hockey fans were finding ways to show that they still loved Gaudreau.
“He just had that magical smile and all I keep picturing is him racing up the ice the way that he did, it was just amazing,” Barron said. “I’m old enough to remember when the Flames came here and I’ve been a Flames fan since then. I went through the ’80s, I went through 2004, and I still think about that overtime goal against (the Dallas Stars in Game 7 of the first round of the 2022 playoffs).
“I don’t think the Saddledome has ever been that loud. It’s been loud at times, but nothing like that.”
On X: @DannyAustin_9