Tributes to Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew continue to pour in across the hockey world after the pair’s tragic death.
Tuesday, Montreal Canadiens star forward Cole Caufield became the latest player to show his respects by announcing on Instagram that he will be switching his number from 22 to 13 in honor of Gaudreau. Caufield had a similiar undersized stature as Gaudreau, listed on NHL.com as 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds.
“I wore #13 at a point in my career because of Johnny and now I will be wearing it again to honor him,” Caufield wrote. “He paved the way for smaller players and proved we had a future in this game at the highest level. I will forever be grateful to him for inspiring me and others.”
Caufield’s full comment can be read below:
We all lost an amazing person, both on and off the ice, in last week’s tragedy. My deepest condolences go to the entire Gaudreau family, especially Johnny’s wife and two kids, who I had the pleasure of meeting. Nothing will be able to fill the void in their families and loved ones hearts, but I hope it provides some comfort to know how these two positively impacted the lives of so many. They will truly be missed.
Getting to play with your hero is something that most people only dream of. I was lucky enough to be Johnny’s teammate this past summer and it didn’t take long to realize how great of a person he was. He was the most welcoming, genuine, and funniest guy I have ever met. He was someone everyone gravitated towards and I took every chance I could to be around him. Not only was he an amazing hockey player and teammate, but he was down to earth and truly cared about every person he encountered.
The last few years playing as #22 have been some of the best years of my life. It truly has been a dream come true and I will forever hold those memories and that number close to me. I wore #13 at a point in my career because of Johnny and now I will be wearing it again to honor him. He paved the way for smaller players and proved we had a future in this game at the highest level. I will forever be grateful to him for inspiring me and others.
Rest in Peace, Johnny hockey.
The two players played together on the United States’ 2024 World Championship team that finished fifth after losing in the quarterfinals 1-0 to Czechia. Both Gaudreau and Caufield finished the tournament in the top 25 of overall scoring.
The Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets also both announced candlelight vigils for the Gaudreau brothers to be held on Wednesday, September 4.
The Flames are inviting fans to come together for a Candlelight Vigil on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. MT.
The vigil will take place at the memorial outside the Scotiabank Saddledome as we honour the lives of Johnny & Matthew Gaudreau.
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 3, 2024
We invite fans to a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau on Wednesday, September 4 at 7:30 p.m.
The vigil will be held on the Front Street Plaza outside the east entrance to Nationwide Arena.
📝 https://t.co/iTG57CaKms pic.twitter.com/1sCfX1KYge
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) September 3, 2024
Both teams have seen fans leave flowers, sticks, drawings, and other tributes outside Gaudreau’s former home arenas.
In preparation for an upcoming tribute and with a concert at the Saddledome tonight, we will be relocating a portion of the Gaudreau Memorial.
Moving forward, we encourage fans to use the grassy area immediately to the north of the stairs.
Thank you ❤️
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 3, 2024
