In a somber yet poignant turn of events, Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy broke his silence on Tuesday regarding the tragic loss of former Flames star Johnny Gaudreau, who met an untimely end in a cycling accident in Oldmans Township, N.J. last week. The incident, caused by an alleged drunk driver, also claimed the life of Gaudreau’s younger brother, Matthew.
Conroy, who penned a heartfelt tribute to Gaudreau on the Flames website, had been closely associated with the talented forward throughout his entire eight-season tenure with the team. Gaudreau’s promising career saw him being drafted 104th overall in 2011, with the Flames eager to secure his signature after an impressive freshman season at Boston College.
The Flames GM recounted how he led a contingent from the organization to Gaudreau’s hometown of Salem, N.J. on multiple occasions in an attempt to persuade him to turn pro, a mission which finally bore fruit two seasons later in April 2014 when Gaudreau signed his first NHL contract. On a bittersweet note, Gaudreau marked his NHL debut with a goal just two days later in a 5-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
In a heartfelt interview with TSN, Conroy opened up about his memories of Gaudreau and the profound impact of the tragedy on the Flames organization. When asked about his emotional state in the wake of the devastating loss, Conroy shared, “Heartbreaking, to say the least. But the one thing is, we have so many people that have been here and worked with Johnny. We’ve all been hanging out together, not being alone, being together, telling a lot of the good stories. You have your emotional highs and lows, and you’re mad, you’re crying. But then when you think all of the positives and good stuff when Johnny was here, it brings a smile to your face. It almost doesn’t seem true.”
Reflecting on the support system within the organization during this trying time, Conroy expressed, “We reached out to everybody, and we have support that’s there for everybody. For me personally, to have my good friends that work here and that know Johnny, we’ve all been able to be together. You call them, ‘Hey, can you come to my house? My wife hasn’t been here.’ It’s not a time to be by yourself and to have them come over, it means more than I can put into words, because of that support. We lost a great friend, and Matthew too.”
As the Flames and the hockey community at large mourn the loss of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, it is clear that their enduring legacy will continue to shine brightly through the cherished memories they have left behind.
