Following the death of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau on Thursday, messages of condolences from fans across the globe flew in. Those in the sports world who knew him were also devastated by the loss.
Riders’ head coach Corey Mace said he crossed paths with the hockey great in Calgary, Alta. at community events and remembered him as “always smiling.”
“[He] just seemed to enjoy every moment, took time for people,” Mace said. “Being him in that city at that time, it’d be hard to argue that there was anybody else that would get everybody riled up.”
Johnny, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, were in Salem County for their sister’s wedding. While they were cycling the day before the ceremony, they were fatally struck by a suspected drunk driver.
“Very rough news. Love to obviously his family and his hockey families …