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John Michael Gaudreau (August 13, 1993 – August 29, 2024) was an American professional
ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
winger who played 11 seasons in the
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL). He played Division I
college ice hockey College ice hockey is played principally in the United States and Canada, though leagues exist outside North America. In the United States, competitive "college hockey" refers to ice hockey played between colleges and universities within the go ...
for the
Boston College Eagles The Boston College Eagles are the athletic teams that represent Boston College, located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level ( Football Bowl Subdivis ...
for three seasons beginning in 2011, and was selected in the fourth round, 104th overall, by the
Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...
in the
2011 NHL entry draft The 2011 NHL entry draft was the 49th entry draft for the National Hockey League. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the ...
. Nicknamed "Johnny Hockey", he was named the 2014 recipient of the
Hobey Baker Award The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player. It has been awarded 44 times. It is named for Hall of Famer Hobey Baker, who played college hockey at Princeton Universit ...
as the best player in the
NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
, and, during his first full NHL season in 2014–15, was selected to play in the
2015 NHL All-Star Game The 2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game was an Exhibition game, exhibition ice hockey game played on January 25, 2015. The game was held in Columbus, Ohio, for the first time, at Nationwide Arena, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team ...
, as well as being named to the annual NHL All-Rookie team. Gaudreau was a
Calder Memorial Trophy The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League (NHL)." It is named after Frank Calder, the first president of the NHL. Serving ...
finalist for the NHL's best rookie, and won the
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard ...
as the league's most gentlemanly player for the 2016–17 season. In 2022, Gaudreau signed with the
Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern C ...
, where he spent his last two seasons. Gaudreau was noted as helping to grow opportunities for smaller hockey players; despite measuring in at , he was a seven-time
NHL All-Star The National Hockey League All-Star Game () is an exhibition ice hockey tournament that is traditionally held during the regular season of the National Hockey League (NHL), with many of the League's star players playing against each other. The ga ...
, and finished fourth in
Hart Memorial Trophy The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The original tr ...
voting twice. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed by a
drunk driver Drunk driving (or drink-driving in British English) is the act of driving under the influence of alcohol. A small increase in the blood alcohol content increases the relative risk of a motor vehicle crash. In the United States, alcohol is in ...
while cycling on August 29, 2024, in
Oldmans Township, New Jersey Oldmans Township is a Township (New Jersey), township in Salem County, New Jersey, Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,910, an increase of 137 (+7.7%) from the 2010 ...
.


Early life

Gaudreau was born on August 13, 1993, in
Salem, New Jersey Salem is a city in and the county seat of Salem County,New Jersey County Map
, to Guy Gaudreau, a former
soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
player and college hockey player and high school coach from
Beebe Plain, Vermont Beebe Plain is an unincorporated community in the town of Derby in Orleans County, Vermont, United States, which extends into the municipality of Stanstead, Quebec, Canada. The village is divided by the Canada–United States border between C ...
, and Jane Gaudreau. He had two sisters and a younger brother, Matthew, who played hockey for the
Worcester Railers The Worcester Railers (also called Worcester Railers HC) are a professional ice hockey team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. The team began play in the 2017–18 ECHL season, and is a member of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of t ...
and the
Bridgeport Sound Tigers The Bridgeport Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, who own the franchise. The team started in 200 ...
in the
ECHL The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a minor professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams across the United States and Canada. Competitively, it is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The ...
and AHL, respectively. Gaudreau grew up in
Carneys Point Township, New Jersey Carneys Point Township is a township in Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 8,637, an increase of 588 (+7.3%) from the 2010 census count of 8,049, which in turn r ...
. As a child, he played little league baseball in the Penns Grove Little League, where he was teammates with future
Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
pitcher Mike Shawaryn, and participated in the 2006
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament The Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament () is an annual minor ice hockey event in Quebec City. The tournament was founded in 1960 to coincide with the Quebec Winter Carnival, and give an opportunity for international competition to p ...
with a
minor ice hockey Minor ice hockey or minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body c ...
team from
Hershey, Pennsylvania Hershey is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is home to the Hershey Company, which was founded by candy magnate Milton S. Hershey ...
. He initially attended
Gloucester Catholic High School Gloucester Catholic High School is a co-educational six-year Roman Catholic high school located in Gloucester City, in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The school is managed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. The school ...
in
Gloucester City, New Jersey Gloucester City is a city in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 11,484, an increase of 28 (+0.2%) from the 2010 census count of 11,456, which in turn reflected a de ...
, but later graduated from
Dubuque Senior High School Dubuque Senior High School (commonly Senior or DSHS) is a four-year public high school located in Dubuque, Iowa. It is one of two high schools in the Dubuque Community School District, and enrolls 1,447 students in grades 9–12. The school's ...
in
Dubuque, Iowa Dubuque (, ) is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. The population was 59,667 at the 2020 United States census. The city lies along the Mississippi River at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a region ...
while playing for the
Dubuque Fighting Saints The Dubuque Fighting Saints are a Tier I junior ice hockey team playing in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and are based in the city of Dubuque, Iowa, on the banks of the Mississippi River at the intersection of Iowa, Illinois, and Wis ...
.


Playing career


USHL (2010–2011)

Gaudreau played the 2010–11 season with the
Dubuque Fighting Saints The Dubuque Fighting Saints are a Tier I junior ice hockey team playing in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and are based in the city of Dubuque, Iowa, on the banks of the Mississippi River at the intersection of Iowa, Illinois, and Wis ...
in the
United States Hockey League The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the Midwestern United States and Great Plains, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. Th ...
(USHL), where he played in the 2011 USHL All-Star Game and helped his team win the
Clark Cup The United States Hockey League began in 1961 as a semi-professional ice hockey league. Starting with the 1979–80 season, the league became a strictly Amateur league, and began awarding its champion the Clark Cup Trophy. All champions of the USH ...
as the USHL champions. He ultimately finished second in the league in goals, with 36, and fourth in points, with 72. Gaudreau's outstanding play was rewarded with selections to the USHL All-Rookie Team and the All-USHL Second Team, as well as the USHL Rookie of the Year award. Gaudreau was selected in the 4th round, 104th overall, in the
2011 NHL entry draft The 2011 NHL entry draft was the 49th entry draft for the National Hockey League. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the ...
by the
Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...
. Listed at and , Gaudreau was the lightest player selected at the draft, and tied with
Rocco Grimaldi Rocco Niccolas Grimaldi (born February 8, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL). Grimaldi was drafted in the second round, 33rd overall, by the Florida Panthers in th ...
for the shortest player selected.


NCAA (2011–2014)

After attending the Calgary Flames training camp ahead of the 2011–12 season, Gaudreau started his career in the
NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
with the Division I
Boston College Eagles The Boston College Eagles are the athletic teams that represent Boston College, located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level ( Football Bowl Subdivis ...
team in the
Hockey East The Hockey East Association, also known as Hockey East, is a college ice hockey conference which operates entirely in New England. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. Hockey East came into existence in 1984 for ...
conference. He originally signed a
letter of intent A letter of intent (LOI or LoI, or Letter of Intent) is a document outlining the understanding between two or more parties which they intend to formalize in a legally binding agreement. The concept is similar to a heads of agreement, term she ...
to play with Hockey East rival
Northeastern University Northeastern University (NU or NEU) is a private university, private research university with its main campus in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded by the Boston Young Men's Christian Association in 1898 as an all-male instit ...
, but opted for Boston College when Northeastern hockey head coach
Greg Cronin Greg Cronin (born June 2, 1963) is an American professional ice hockey coach who most recently served as the head coach for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Coaching career Cronin began his career as an assistant coach at h ...
resigned in June 2011 to take a position with the NHL's
Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
. As a freshman at
Boston College Boston College (BC) is a private university, private Catholic Jesuits, Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1863 by the Society of Jesus, a Catholic Religious order (Catholic), religious order, t ...
, Gaudreau scored 21 goals and 23 assists (44 points) in 44 games, leading all first-year students in scoring. He played an integral part in Boston College's win in the team's
national championship A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or competition, contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the be ...
, scoring a goal late in the third period in their 4–1 win in the final over
Ferris State University Ferris State University (FSU or Ferris) is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1884 as Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge N. Ferris and became a public institution in 1950. ...
. Gaudreau was awarded the Bill Flynn Trophy as the
Most Valuable Player In team sports, a most valuable player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particular competition, or ...
of the Hockey East Championship Tournament. He also helped the Eagles win the traditional
Beanpot Tournament The Beanpot is an annual men's and women's ice hockey tournament among the four major college hockey teams of the Greater Boston area in the United States: the Boston University Terriers, Boston College Eagles, Harvard University Crimson, and N ...
for the third year in a row and was named Beanpot MVP after the tournament. In his sophomore campaign, Gaudreau emerged as the team's star and improved upon his statistics, achieving a 21–30–51 scoring line in 35 games, and leading the nation in points per game at 1.46. He then led the Eagles to a fourth consecutive Beanpot championship after helping to win a
gold medal A gold medal is a medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture. Since the eighteenth century, gold medals have b ...
for the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
at the 2013 World Juniors. Despite Boston College's defeat by
archrival A rivalry is the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each participant ...
Boston University Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...
in the Hockey East tournament semi-finals and loss to
Union College Union College is a Private university, private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and second in the s ...
in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Gaudreau was named Hockey East Player of the Year, as well as an
American Collegiate Hockey Association The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) is a college ice hockey association. The ACHA's purpose is to be an organization of collegiate affiliated programs, which provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes quality in collegi ...
(ACHA) First Team
All-American The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
. On April 3, 2013, Gaudreau was named one of the three finalists for the 2013
Hobey Baker Award The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player. It has been awarded 44 times. It is named for Hall of Famer Hobey Baker, who played college hockey at Princeton Universit ...
, awarded to the NCAA's top men's ice hockey player, along with
Eric Hartzell Eric Hartzell (born May 28, 1989) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He last played abroad for HK Nitra in the Slovak Extraliga (Slovak). Playing career Before turning professional, Hartzell attended Quinnipiac University, ...
and Drew LeBlanc., Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation website. Accessed February 23, 2015. St. Cloud State's Drew LeBlanc eventually won the award. Gaudreau remained at Boston College for his junior year despite rumors of him turning professional and joining the Calgary Flames. According to Gaudreau, one of the main reasons he stayed was to play with his younger brother Matthew, who joined Boston College's team in the fall. Gaudreau subsequently led the NCAA in every major scoring category, scoring 36 goals and 44 assists for 80 points in 40 games, a 2.00 point per game pace, the highest production by any player in the country since 2003. After a 5–4 Eagles loss to Holy Cross in November, Gaudreau was placed on a line with Bill Arnold and
Kevin Hayes Kevin Patrick Hayes (born May 8, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Growing up in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Hayes played hockey for the Noble and ...
, which quickly became collegiate hockey's most offensively-potent line, producing 46 goals and 68 assists for 114 points as a trio. In addition, Gaudreau tied
Paul Kariya Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya (born October 16, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Known as a skilled and fast-skating offensive player, he played in the NHL for the Mig ...
's record for the Hockey East single-season scoring streak at 31 games, scoring 29 goals and 61 points during the span. For his season, he was named the league's Player of the Year for the second straight season, as well as the league's scoring champion with 36 points in 20 games, and was named a unanimous First-Team All-Star. He was also named a Hobey Baker top ten finalist on March 20, and a top three "Hobey Hat Trick" finalist for the second-straight year on April 2. Although the Eagles lost to
Union College Union College is a Private university, private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and second in the s ...
in the Frozen Four on April 11, Gaudreau was named the 2014 recipient of the Hobey Baker Award.


Calgary Flames (2014–2022)

Gaudreau entered the NHL on the day he received the Hobey Baker Award. On April 11, 2014, shortly after the ceremony, Gaudreau and Eagles teammate Bill Arnold signed entry-level contracts with the Calgary Flames, Arnold having been drafted by Calgary in
2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...
. Both made their NHL debut in the Flames' final game of the 2013–14 season against the
Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
. Gaudreau scored the Flames' only goal on his first shot of his first professional game. To begin the 2014–15 season, Gaudreau earned a spot on the Flames' roster to continue his NHL career. Starting off slowly, Gaudreau did not record a point until the year's sixth game. However, he heated up quickly, amassing 12 goals and 30 points through 37 games. He scored his first career NHL
hat-trick A hat-trick or hat trick is the achievement of a generally positive feat three times in a match, or another achievement based on the number three. Origin The term first appeared in 1858 in cricket, to describe H. H. Stephenson taking three Wick ...
against
Jonathan Quick Jonathan Douglas Quick (born January 21, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Quick was selected in the third round, 72nd overall, by the Los Angeles Kings at the ...
on December 22, 2014, in a 4–3 comeback win over the
Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...
, becoming the youngest Flames player to record a hat-trick since
Joe Nieuwendyk Joseph Nieuwendyk ( ; born September 10, 1966) is a Canadian former National Hockey League (NHL) player. He was a second round selection of the Calgary Flames, 27th overall, at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and played 20 seasons for the Flames, Dall ...
in the 1987–88 season. Gaudreau was selected to play in the
2015 NHL All-Star Game The 2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game was an Exhibition game, exhibition ice hockey game played on January 25, 2015. The game was held in Columbus, Ohio, for the first time, at Nationwide Arena, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team ...
in
Columbus, Ohio Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...
, on January 25, 2015, and participated in the Skills Competition, garnering attention with
Jakub Voráček Jakub Voráček (; born 15 August 1989) is a Czech former professional ice hockey right winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted seventh overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. In ...
for their antics during the shootout challenge. The shootout move, which imitated the previous move performed by
Ryan Johansen Ryan Johansen (born July 31, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently a free agent. Growing up, he played minor hockey in the Greater Vancouver area until joining the junior ranks with the Penticton Vees of the Britis ...
(who helped seven-year-old Cole Vogt, the son of
Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern C ...
trainer Mike Vogt, score a goal on
Corey Crawford Corey Crawford (born December 31, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Crow" by teammates and fans, he played his entire professional career with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL), w ...
) went viral. Voráček, who went immediately after Johansen, "helped" Gaudreau score a goal in the same manner as Johansen did with Vogt, making fun of Gaudreau's size and youth, as his small stature in comparison to other NHLers led some to believe that he looked like a child. Gaudreau was originally named to the All-Star Skills Competition Rookie Team, limited to only the competition portion, but was promoted to the All-Star Game itself as a replacement to
Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
forward and captain
Sidney Crosby Sidney Patrick Crosby (born August 7, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and Captain (ice hockey), captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Sid the Kid" and dubb ...
, who could not play due to injury. Gaudreau was named to Team Toews and recorded two assists in the game, both on goals scored by the
Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (colloquially referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Predators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Divisio ...
'
Filip Forsberg Carl Filip Anton Forsberg (; born 13 August 1994), nicknamed "Fil", is a Swedish professional ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Forsberg was selected by the Washington Capit ...
. On March 11, 2015, Gaudreau scored his 50th point of the season, becoming the first Flames rookie to reach the mark since
Jarome Iginla Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla (; born July 1, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger (ice hockey), winger. He played over 1,500 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames, Pittsbu ...
in 1996–97. Gaudreau finished the season tied for the rookie scoring lead with
Mark Stone Mark Stone (born May 13, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger and captain of the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the sixth round, 178th overall, of the 201 ...
of the
Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
. Gaudreau had 24 goals and led all rookies with 40 assists, while Stone had 26 goals. He was a finalist for the
Calder Memorial Trophy The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League (NHL)." It is named after Frank Calder, the first president of the NHL. Serving ...
as the NHL's best rookie, but the award went to
Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...
defenseman
Aaron Ekblad Aaron Ekblad (born February 7, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and Captain (ice hockey)#Alternate captains, alternate captain for the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Ekblad was selected first overall ...
, with Gaudreau finishing third. He was named to the NHL's All-Rookie team for the 2014–15 season. The 2015–16 season was a breakout year for Gaudreau, as the sophomore set career highs in goals, assists, and points en route to finishing tied for sixth among all NHL players in total points. For the second straight year, Gaudreau participated in the NHL All-Star Game, the 61st in NHL history. Gaudreau was selected as a finalist to be the All-Star Game MVP, an honor eventually given to unlikely write-in candidate enforcer John Scott. However, the Flames failed to live up to high expectations following their surprisingly successful 2014–15 season, finishing 26th in the NHL and missing the
Stanley Cup playoffs The Stanley Cup playoffs () is the annual elimination tournament to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, and the league champion of the National Hockey League (NHL). The four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held after the NHL's regular s ...
for the sixth time in seven seasons. Gaudreau missed the entirety of the Flames' 2016 training camp due to a contract dispute. On October 10, 2016, two days before the Flames' season opener, Gaudreau signed a six-year, $40.5 million contract worth $6.75 million annually. On November 16, 2016, in a game against the
Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...
, Gaudreau suffered a finger fracture. He had surgery the following day. Despite speculation he would miss up to six weeks of the season, Gaudreau returned after ten games. Gaudreau finished the season with 18 goals and 43 assists for 61 points in 72 games, leading the Flames in scoring. However, in the playoffs, the Flames would lose in a four-game sweep to the
Anaheim Ducks The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. The Ducks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confere ...
in the first round, with Gaudreau unable to score a goal. Gaudreau set a career high in points scored during the 2017–18 season, leading the Flames with 84. He was named an
NHL All-Star The National Hockey League All-Star Game () is an exhibition ice hockey tournament that is traditionally held during the regular season of the National Hockey League (NHL), with many of the League's star players playing against each other. The ga ...
for the fourth consecutive year, but would not participate in the
playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
as the Flames came up short of a late-season push for the last wild card spot in the Western Conference. The 2018–19 season was Gaudreau's best regular season. He finished with a career-best 99 points, including career highs in goals (36), assists (63), and points (99). He was tied for seventh place in league scoring. The Flames won the Pacific Division and were the Western Conference's top seed heading into the
2019 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 2018–19 season. The playoffs began on April 10, 2019, after the regular season, and they concluded on June 12, 2019, with the St. Louis Blu ...
. Gaudreau finished fourth in voting for the
Hart Memorial Trophy The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The original tr ...
, awarded by the
Professional Hockey Writers' Association The Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) is a North American professional association for ice hockey journalists writing for newspapers, magazines and websites. The PHWA was founded in 1967 and has approximately 180 voting members. The ...
(PHWA) to the league's
most valuable player In team sports, a most valuable player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particular competition, or ...
. However, in the first round of the 2019 playoffs, the Flames lost to the eighth-seeded
Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...
. Gaudreau managed only one point, an assist, in the five-game series, which was singled out as a key weakness for the Flames in the postseason. Following his success in 2018–19, Gaudreau had a disappointing season, hitting career lows of only 18 goals and 40 assists for 58 points in 70 games. The onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
led to the regular season being prematurely halted in March. The NHL eventually arranged to hold the
2020 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 2019–20 season. The playoffs began on August 1, 2020, and concluded on September 28, 2020, with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning their second ...
in a
bubble Bubble, Bubbles or The Bubble may refer to: Common uses * Bubble (physics), a globule of one substance in another, usually gas in a liquid ** Soap bubble * Economic bubble, a situation where asset prices are much higher than underlying fundame ...
in
Edmonton Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...
and
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
. The Flames had been eighth in the Western Conference when the regular season was suspended, and so played the ninth-place
Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...
in a special qualifying round. In game one of the series, Gaudreau scored his first playoff goal since 2015, helping the Flames win the game 4–1. After ousting the Jets 3–1 in the qualifying round, the Flames faced the
Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The Stars ...
in the first round. Gaudreau again struggled to produce in the playoffs, and the Flames lost the series four games to two. During the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, the NHL realigned its divisions temporarily for a shortened 2020–21 season. To eliminate cross-border travel, all seven Canadian teams played in the
North Division Northern Division or North Division can refer to: Sports * Northern Division (Rugby Union) Leagues of England * Queensland Rugby League Northern Division * Southern League Northern Division of the Southern Football League in England * FA Women's ...
. The year began slowly for Gaudreau, and further difficulties arose when coach Geoff Ward was replaced midway through the season by
Darryl Sutter Darryl John Sutter (born August 19, 1958) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is one of seven Sutter brothers, six of whom made the ...
. Adjusting to Sutter's style was challenging, and Gaudreau posted only seven points in a span of fifteen games following the switch. However, his scoring improved dramatically during the final months of the regular season, alongside general improvement of the team. He recorded his 300th career assist on a goal by teammate Sam Bennett in a game against the
Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
. Gaudreau again lead the Flames in goals (19) and assists (30) during the season. The Flames did not qualify for the
2021 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 2020–21 season. The playoffs began on May 15, 2021, and concluded on July 7, 2021, with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning their second consecu ...
, coming four points short of the
Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
for the final berth in the North Division. The NHL's divisions and format returned to their pre-pandemic norms for the 2021–22 season, the Flames' first full season under returning coach Sutter. It would be one of the most successful regular seasons in team history, with Gaudreau at the center of its success. With centreman
Elias Lindholm Elias Viktor Zebulon Lindholm (born 2 December 1994) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2013 ...
and
Matthew Tkachuk Matthew Brendan Tkachuk ( ; born December 11, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played in the NHL for the Calgary Flames. The Fl ...
on the right wing, he formed one of the most dominant forward lines in the NHL, and all three members hit numerous personal and collective milestones throughout the season. On April 12, he hit the 100-point mark for the first time in his career. Gaudreau scored his 40th goal of the season in an April 29 loss to the
Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...
, joining Lindholm and Tkachuk in this feat, the first time in 28 years that linemates had all achieved this, and only the fourth time in that span that a team had three 40-goal scorers. He finished the season playing in all 82 contests with 40 goals and 75 assists for 115 points, finishing second overall in points standings for the
Art Ross Trophy The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League (NHL) player who leads the league in Point (ice hockey), points at the end of the regular season. It was presented to the league by former player, general manager, and head coach Art Ros ...
, behind only
Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
forward and captain
Connor McDavid Connor Andrew McDavid (born January 13, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and Captain (ice hockey), captain of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected first overall by the Oilers ...
. This was also the second-most points ever for a Flame, behind only
Kent Nilsson Kent Åke Nilsson (born 31 August 1956) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Winnipeg Jets, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta and Calgary Flames, Minnes ...
(131) in 1980–81. Gaudreau's performance through the season led many to argue that he should be a serious candidate for the
Hart Memorial Trophy The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The original tr ...
, though he was ultimately not a finalist, finishing fourth in the voting. The Flames won the Pacific Division and finished sixth in the league. The Flames drew the
Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The Stars ...
in the first round of the
2022 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 2021–22 season. The playoffs began on May 2, 2022, one day after the regular season ended, and concluded on June 26, 2022, with the Colorado ...
, a rematch of the bubble playoffs two years prior, and a matchup in which the Flames were considered the favourites. In light of disappointing results in preceding years, Gaudreau's prospective performance was the subject of considerable speculation. The Stars proved a greater challenge than many had anticipated, largely due to an exceptional performance from goaltender
Jake Oettinger Jakob Oettinger ( ; born December 18, 1998), nicknamed Otter or Phenomenotter, is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for Boston University during his collegiate care ...
. After falling behind two games to one, Gaudreau scored the game-winning goal to help tie the series in game four, his first of the playoffs. His performance through the early games earned the praise of coach Sutter, who said he felt that Gaudreau had "taken that step" to perform as well in the playoffs as he had during the regular season. Gaudreau's second goal of the playoffs was also a game-winner, this time in overtime in game seven, sending the Flames through to the second round for the first time in seven years. The Flames drew the
Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
in the second round, the first playoff "
Battle of Alberta The Battle of Alberta is a term applied to the intense rivalry between the Canada, Canadian cities of Calgary, the province's most populous city (since 1976), and Edmonton, the capital of the province of Alberta (since 1905). Most often it is us ...
" in 31 years. The Flames were defeated by the Oilers in five games, bringing the playoff run to an end. With the pending expiration of Gaudreau's contract, many regarded him as the top unrestricted free agent of 2022, and whether the Flames could re-sign him was a topic of considerable discussion. On July 12, 2022, the Flames announced that Gaudreau would not return to Calgary despite an aggressive internal campaign by the club to re-sign him, including a monetary package that would have made Gaudreau one of the highest paid players in the league. General Manager Brad Treliving described Gaudreau's decision as a "disappointing day, to say the very least," but noted Gaudreau's desire to move closer to his family, saying "I respect that fully. John has every right, and we have nothing but respect for John the player and John the person."


Columbus Blue Jackets (2022–2024)

On July 13, 2022, the opening day of free agency, Gaudreau agreed to a seven-year, $68.25 million contract with an average annual value of $9.75 million with the
Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern C ...
, accepting less money than offered by Calgary and comparable deals provided by the
New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
and
New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...
to play for the club. His decision to sign in Columbus "stunned" the hockey world, both because it had not been among the most commonly mooted destinations beforehand and because Columbus had acquired a reputation as an undesirable destination for free agents. Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen expressed the hope that with the signing "we can finally get rid of the bullshit that this is somehow a bad destination, a bad city, whatever. Because it's never been true." Gaudreau's first season with the Blue Jackets was difficult, as injuries to key players and poor performances from many others plagued the team. Gaudreau's performance was lauded, and he was chosen to represent the team at the 2023 All-Star Game. The Blue Jackets ultimately finished thirty-first of thirty-two teams in the league, while Gaudreau had a team-leading 74 points, 22 more than second-place
Patrik Laine Patrik Laine (; born 19 April 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey right winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL entry draft. Laine has also ...
. Despite the disappointing season, he insisted "I don't have any second thoughts. I love it here." In the 2023–24 season, Gaudreau saw his point production decline from 74 to 60 despite again leading the Blue Jackets. ''
The Hockey News ''The Hockey News'' (''THN'') is a Canadian-based ice hockey magazine. ''The Hockey News'' was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Will Cote and has since become the most recognized hockey publication in North America. The magazine has a reader ...
'' attributed the down year in part to his lack of consistent linemates, as the Blue Jackets finished tied with Montreal both for the worst standings in the Eastern Conference and fourth-worst overall.


International play

In 2013, Gaudreau was selected to represent the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
in the
2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 2013 IIHF World U20 Championship (commonly known as the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships) was the 37th edition of the IIHF World U20 Championship, Ice Hockey World Junior Championship (WJC). It was hosted in Ufa, Russia. It began o ...
. He led the tournament with seven goals and tied for the team lead with nine points as the U.S. won the gold medal. Highlighted by a hat-trick in the quarter-finals against the
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
and another two goals against
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
in the semi-finals, he was named to the tournament All-Star Team. In 2014, Gaudreau was named to the senior
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
team that played in the
2014 IIHF World Championship The 2014 IIHF World Championship was hosted by Belarus in its capital, Minsk, held from 9 to 25 May 2014. Sixteen national teams were competing in two venues, the Minsk-Arena and Chizhovka-Arena. It was the first time Belarus hosted the tourname ...
in
Minsk Minsk (, ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach (Berezina), Svislach and the now subterranean Nyamiha, Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administra ...
, Belarus. He scored his first international goal as a professional in a pre-tournament game against
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, scoring the second goal in a 3–1 victory. He scored in the first official game of the tournament, the third goal in a 5–1 victory over hosts
Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
. Although the U.S. bowed out of the tournament in a quarter-final loss to the
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
, Gaudreau finished the tournament tenth in scoring, with two goals and eight assists for ten points, including a four-point performance in a 5–4 win over Germany. In 2016, Gaudreau joined
Team North America The term Team North America is used in a number of sports to designate a unified team of North American countries in several sports competitions and sports tournament A tournament is a competition involving at least three competitors, all par ...
to play at the
2016 World Cup of Hockey The 2016 World Cup of Hockey (abbreviated WCH2016) was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the third installment of the National Hockey League (NHL)-sanctioned competition, 12 years after the second World Cup of Hockey in 2004. It was ...
, playing alongside other NHL stars from both the United States and Canada who were 23 years old and under at the time. He scored four points in three games, two goals, and two assists. In 2018, Gaudreau was named to the American roster to compete at the
2018 IIHF World Championship The 2018 IIHF World Championship was an international ice hockey tournament hosted by the Denmark, Danish cities of Copenhagen and Herning, held from 4 to 20 May 2018. The IIHF announced the winning bid on 23 May 2014 in Minsk, Belarus. South Kor ...
. He scored one goal and eight assists during the tournament en route to a bronze medal for the U.S. On April 19, 2019, Gaudreau was selected to represent Team USA at the
2019 IIHF World Championship The 2019 IIHF World Championship was hosted from 10 to 26 May 2019 by Slovakia. It was the second time that Slovakia has hosted the event as an independent country, as was the case in 2011 IIHF World Championship, 2011. The host cities were Brati ...
, held in
Bratislava Bratislava (German: ''Pressburg'', Hungarian: ''Pozsony'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Slovakia, Slovak Republic and the fourth largest of all List of cities and towns on the river Danube, cities on the river Danube. ...
and
Košice Košice is the largest city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary. With a population of approximately 230,000, Košice is the second-largest cit ...
, Slovakia. He recorded only one goal and one assist over the U.S.' six games, with the team finishing seventh in the tournament following a quarterfinals loss to
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
. After several years away from international play, Gaudreau was named to the U.S.' roster for the
2024 IIHF World Championship The 2024 IIHF World Championship was hosted by Czechia from 10 to 26 May 2024. It was held in Prague and Ostrava, and organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. It was the most attended Hockey Championship in history with a total atte ...
in
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
and
Ostrava Ostrava (; ; ) is a city in the north-east of the Czech Republic and the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region. It has about 283,000 inhabitants. It lies from the border with Poland, at the confluences of four rivers: Oder, Opava (river), Opa ...
, Czechia. He scored three goals and eight assists during the tournament, but the United States once again failed to medal, finishing in fifth after a quarterfinals loss to the host Czechs.


Personal life

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's father, Guy Gaudreau, a native of
Beebe Plain, Vermont Beebe Plain is an unincorporated community in the town of Derby in Orleans County, Vermont, United States, which extends into the municipality of Stanstead, Quebec, Canada. The village is divided by the Canada–United States border between C ...
, played college hockey at
Norwich University Norwich University is a private university in Northfield, Vermont, United States. The university was founded in 1819 as the "American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy". It is the oldest of six senior military college, senior militar ...
, after playing high school hockey at North Country Union High School. He was inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. He settled in southern New Jersey and spent 11 years coaching hockey at Gloucester Catholic. Gaudreau married his wife, Meredith, in September 2021. The couple had two children together: a daughter, Noa, born in September 2022 and a son, Johnny Jr., born in February 2024. On September 9, 2024, Meredith announced in her eulogy that she was pregnant with their third child (due in Spring 2025). On April 1, 2025, Meredith gave birth to Carter Michael Gaudreau. Carter was given the middle name Michael in honor of Johnny, whose middle name was also Michael. Gaudreau's younger brother, Matthew, was also a professional hockey player and played on the
Reading Royals The Reading Royals are a professional ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the North Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Royals play their home games at the Santander Arena located in downtown R ...
of the
ECHL The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a minor professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams across the United States and Canada. Competitively, it is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The ...
. He previously played for the
Bridgeport Sound Tigers The Bridgeport Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, who own the franchise. The team started in 200 ...
of the
American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...
(AHL) and their ECHL affiliate, the
Worcester Railers The Worcester Railers (also called Worcester Railers HC) are a professional ice hockey team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. The team began play in the 2017–18 ECHL season, and is a member of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of t ...
. Gaudreau and his brother played together at Boston College during the 2013–14 season. In January 2015, Johnny Gaudreau filed a trademark application for the nickname "Johnny Hockey" in Canada and the U.S. due to concerns that people would abuse his nickname for their own marketing gain. After Johnny and his brother, Matthew, were struck and killed by a drunk driver while riding their bicycles near their hometown in New Jersey on August 29, 2024, Matthew's wife, Madeline, gave birth to their child in December 2024.


Death

On the evening of August 29, 2024, Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were struck and killed by a
drunk driver Drunk driving (or drink-driving in British English) is the act of driving under the influence of alcohol. A small increase in the blood alcohol content increases the relative risk of a motor vehicle crash. In the United States, alcohol is in ...
while they were
cycling Cycling, also known as bicycling or biking, is the activity of riding a bicycle or other types of pedal-driven human-powered vehicles such as balance bikes, unicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. Cycling is practised around the world fo ...
in
Oldmans Township, New Jersey Oldmans Township is a Township (New Jersey), township in Salem County, New Jersey, Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,910, an increase of 137 (+7.7%) from the 2010 ...
. The Gaudreau brothers were cycling at around 8 p.m. and were hit from the rear by a motorist who was attempting to pass other vehicles on a single-lane rural highway. Police responded to the incident at 8:19 p.m.; both brothers were found dead at the scene by the time police arrived. The driver, 44-year-old Sean M. Higgins of Woodstown, was arrested for drunk driving and charged with death by auto, after telling responding officers at the scene that he had consumed "five or six" beers before driving and continued to consume alcohol while operating the car; he failed a
breathalyzer A breathalyzer or breathalyser (a portmanteau of ''breath'' and ''analyzer/analyser''), also called an alcohol meter, is a device for measuring breath alcohol (drug), alcohol content (BrAC). It is commonly utilized by law enforcement officers ...
test when administered by police, along with failing a Field sobriety testing, field sobriety test. Both Gaudreau brothers were also legally intoxicated at the time of the collision. Rumors of the Gaudreaus' deaths began to circulate online on the evening of the collision, but their deaths were not officially announced until the following morning. The brothers had traveled to the township to attend their sister Katie's wedding, which had been scheduled to take place the following day. Several North American sports teams, popular figures, and organizations issued tributes in reaction to his death. All 32 NHL teams issued statements in response to his death, alongside dozens of hockey players, athletes from other sports, and politicians, among them Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canadian Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and former governor Chris Christie. Makeshift fan memorials also developed outside Nationwide Arena and the Scotiabank Saddledome, the home arenas of the Blue Jackets and Flames, respectively, as well as at the scene of the collision and notable local community sites which had a connection to the Gaudreau family. The Ohio State Buckeyes football, Ohio State Buckeyes and the Columbus Crew both held moments of silence before their respective games on August 31, 2024. Similarly, the Calgary Stampeders held a 13-second moment of silence prior to their Canadian Football League (CFL) game on September 2. On September 3, fellow American NHLer and United States men's national ice hockey team, U.S. national teammate Cole Caufield announced that he would be switching his jersey number from 22 to 13 beginning in the 2024–25 NHL season, 2024–25 season in honor of Gaudreau, citing him as an inspiration early into his hockey career owing to his own short stature. Both the Blue Jackets and Flames held candlelight vigils at their respective arenas on September 4; the former saw speeches from multiple players, including Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner, Calgary and Columbus teammate Erik Gudbranson, and Cole Sillinger, with those gathered observing 13 minutes and 21 seconds of silence, in reference to Johnny's jersey no. 13 and Matthew's jersey no. 21. The Flames' vigil involved a similar 13 minutes of silence, marking the beginning of a 13-day observance at the makeshift Saddledome memorial, as well as speeches from Flames captain Mikael Backlund and Hockey Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald. On September 9, a funeral service for the Gaudreau brothers was held at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Media, Pennsylvania. Johnny's former Calgary teammates, Sean Monahan and Andrew Mangiapane, and former
Boston College Boston College (BC) is a private university, private Catholic Jesuits, Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1863 by the Society of Jesus, a Catholic Religious order (Catholic), religious order, t ...
teammate Kevin Hayes, served as his pallbearers. On October 15, the Blue Jackets' opening home game of the season, the team "saved a spot for Johnny," operating a missing man formation by starting without a left winger and passing the puck to the empty spot as they observed 13 seconds of silence. The game also included a charity fundraiser, a tribute video, a memorial banner featuring his no. 13 being raised to the Nationwide Arena rafters, and a PSA against drunk driving. The Gaudreau brothers' widows, Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau, then created The John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation to honor their husbands' legacies. The foundation's mission is to "promote and expand youth hockey opportunities, help hockey families facing tragedies, as well as help families that are, unfortunately, also affected by drunk driving, like ours." On September 13, 2024, the driver was ordered to remain in jail. He was officially indicted on December 11, 2024, and pled not guilty at his arraignment on January 7, 2025. The defense filed a motion to dismiss the charges on February 5, 2025, in part based on "failure to present a ''prima facie'' case." On April 15, the charges were upheld by the judge preceding over the case. During both the 4 Nations Face-Off and 2025 IIHF World Championship, Gaudreau was honored by the United States men's national ice hockey team, U.S team, who he had played for multiple times. For the 4 Nations Face-Off, Gaudreau was honored with his own locker in the stall, hanging with his jersey, which was awarded to the player of the game for the team's wins. Before the final against Canada men's national ice hockey team, Canada, Mike Eruzione, who was named an honorary captain, came out in a Gaudreau jersey. During the 2025 IIHF World Championship, the team also carried a Gaudreau jersey with them. After winning their first gold medal in 92 years at the Ice Hockey World Championships, World Championships, the team brought out Gaudreau's jersey, accepting the trophy with it in hand.


Career statistics

Career statistics derived from Elite Prospects.


Regular season and playoffs


International


Awards and honors


See also

* List of ice hockey players who died during their careers


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gaudreau, Johnny 1993 births 2024 deaths 21st-century American sportsmen AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans American expatriate ice hockey players in Canada American men's ice hockey left wingers Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey players Calgary Flames draft picks Calgary Flames players Columbus Blue Jackets players Cycling road incident deaths Dubuque Fighting Saints players Gloucester Catholic High School alumni Hobey Baker Award winners Ice hockey players from New Jersey Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winners National Hockey League All-Stars People from Carneys Point Township, New Jersey Sportspeople from Salem, New Jersey Road incident deaths in New Jersey USA Hockey National Team Development Program players NCAA men's ice hockey national champions