CALGARY, Alberta — The Calgary Flames honored their former star Johnny Gaudreau on a poignant Tuesday night, just months after the beloved All-Star tragically lost his life in a cycling accident in New Jersey this summer.

Johnny Gaudreau, affectionately known as “Johnny Hockey,” spent the majority of his NHL career—eight out of ten full seasons—with the Flames, where he emerged as one of the league’s elite players. He played his final two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

On August 29, Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were fatally struck by a suspected impaired driver while they were cycling on a rural road, just a day before their sister Katie’s wedding. The alleged driver has since been charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, and possession of an open container while consuming alcohol inside a vehicle.

During the tribute, Calgary welcomed several members of the Gaudreau family, including Johnny’s father, his wife Meredith, their two children, and his sisters.

Meredith Gaudreau shared her emotional experience of returning to Calgary, revealing to Sportsnet that she commemorated her husband by getting his autograph tattooed on her right wrist and forearm. She expressed her sentiments by stating, “I thought it would be cool to say that I did that in Calgary because that is where his autograph really took off. It’s like, this is where it all began.”

She expressed her excitement about seeing the fans again and allowing them to connect with her children. “Everyone has been so warm,” she remarked, feeling as though she had never left Calgary, surrounded by so many familiar faces and cherished memories.

Prior to the game, the Flames’ tributes began with players donning jerseys featuring Gaudreau’s name and number during warmups. The game also featured a ceremonial faceoff, involving Sean Monahan from the Blue Jackets and Mikael Backlund from the Flames, alongside the Gaudreau family.

In an emotional moment, Meredith Gaudreau expressed her gratitude to the fans of Calgary, saying, “They’ve been amazing.” With tears in her eyes, she reflected on the love and support she received, “I read everyone’s messages… I feel like it’s home away from home still, so it’s just really nice. Being here and having fans see the kids, there’s a ton of people I’m going to see tonight. I am really happy to be here.”