Calgary Flames fans joined in an outpouring of love and sorrow for the family of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau with a makeshift tribute at Scotiabank Saddledome.

NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed Thursday night when they were hit by a car while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey. Johnny was 31, Matthew was 29.

Affectionately known as 含羞草研究社淛ohnny Hockey,含羞草研究社� Johnny Gaudreau starred over parts of nine seasons with the Calgary Flames before joining the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022.

Flames fans laid out a team jersey and hat, while others stopped by to leave flowers and handwritten notes on the steps outside Calgary含羞草研究社檚 home arena 含羞草研究社� where Gaudreau became an NHL star.

含羞草研究社淭hanks Johnny for making the Flames great again,含羞草研究社� someone wrote.

Jeremiah Nudd, wearing a signed jersey with Gaudreau含羞草研究社檚 No. 13 won in a raffle, said he was feeling raw as he came by to drop off a bouquet.

含羞草研究社淚 didn含羞草研究社檛 know Johnny, but this just feels different. I含羞草研究社檝e never had a celebrity death or something like that impact me the way this has,含羞草研究社� he said.

Nudd said he含羞草研究社檚 been a lifelong Flames fan and remembered some 含羞草研究社渄ark years含羞草研究社� after longtime captain Jarome Iginla含羞草研究社檚 departure in 2013.

含羞草研究社淏ut when this little guy from Boston College came to Calgary, the future just looked so bright,含羞草研究社� he said.

The hockey-crazed fan base also left bags of Skittles candy and bottles of purple Gatorade.

Gaudreau含羞草研究社檚 father, Guy, famously threw Skittles on the ice to help teach him to skate. The purple Gatorade was a nod to a goal celebration between Gaudreau and his linemates.

Inside the Saddledome, the Flames projected a tribute on the jumbotron. An image of Gaudreau celebrating a goal was next to the words 含羞草研究社淚n Loving Memory, Johnny Gaudreau, 1993-2024.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淐ompletely gutted. The world just lost one of the best. RIP Johnny,含羞草研究社� Flames forward Blake Coleman, who played with Gaudreau during the 2021-22 season, said on social media.

含羞草研究社淭rying to find the right words today is not easy,含羞草研究社� added defenceman Rasmus Andersson with a picture of him with Gaudreau. 含羞草研究社淵ou were a hell of a hockey player but it含羞草研究社檚 the person Johnny that always is going to be with me, one of my closest friends.

含羞草研究社淭here hasn含羞草研究社檛 been a dry eye in the Andersson house today. We all love you Johnny.含羞草研究社�

The two brothers were in Carneys Point, N.J., for their sister Katie含羞草研究社檚 wedding scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia, at which they were to be groomsmen.

New Jersey State police said Friday the Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road when a man driving in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind, causing fatal injuries.

Police said the driver, Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto and jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility.

Johnny Gaudreau was a seven-time NHL all-star and a Hobey Baker Award winner as the top men含羞草研究社檚 player in college hockey, despite being undersized at five-foot-nine and 180 pounds.

Longtime NHL executive Brian Burke, who was the Flames含羞草研究社� president of hockey operations from 2013 to 2018, highlighted Gaudreau含羞草研究社檚 passion for the game, and dedication to his family and the Calgary community.

含羞草研究社淛ohnny was always the first to raise his hand to give back to the community. When we had any charity requests, we always knew he would say yes, without hesitation,含羞草研究社� Burke wrote in a statement on social media. 含羞草研究社淗is love of his family, friends, and alma matter was always apparent and was clearly the driving force in his life. What I will remember most was his happiness, enthusiasm, and kindness that radiated out through the locker room every day.含羞草研究社�

Flames fan Kevin Smith, after giving a silent prayer at the Saddledome memorial, said Gaudreau含羞草研究社檚 presence in the community converted him from a diehard Detroit Red Wings supporter.

含羞草研究社淥f course he含羞草研究社檚 a great hockey player,含羞草研究社� Smith said. 含羞草研究社淏ut just what he gave back to the community含羞草研究社� That含羞草研究社檚 what brought me to him.含羞草研究社�

Gaudreau is survived by his wife, Meredith, and his children, Noa and Johnny.

The Tsuut含羞草研究社檌na Nation, located southwest of Calgary, mourned the death of 含羞草研究社渁n instant fan favourite.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淭suut含羞草研究社檌na is in a state of shock at the news of the tragic deaths of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. It含羞草研究社檚 no secret that most Tsuut含羞草研究社檌na people are rabid hockey fans, and this news hits hard,含羞草研究社� Tsuut含羞草研究社檌na Chief Roy Whitney said in a statement.

含羞草研究社淛ohnny was simply magical on the ice. I cannot remember another player with such skating skill and such mastery of the game, and yet with a gentle demeanour and humility.含羞草研究社�

Former Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent, now the coach of the American Hockey League含羞草研究社檚 Laval Rocket, said it was a privilege to get to know 含羞草研究社渢he real Johnny Gaudreau 含羞草研究社� the person behind the hockey player.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淗e was a humble and unassuming young man with extraordinary talent, who never sought to be in the spotlight,含羞草研究社� Vincent said in a statement through the Montreal Canadiens. 含羞草研究社淗is passion for the game and exceptional hockey sense allowed him to achieve greatness, yet he remained grounded and true to himself.含羞草研究社�

Matthew Gaudreau played four seasons as a forward at Boston College, joining Johnny on the Eagles during the 2013-14 campaign. He went on to play professionally in the AHL and ECHL.

The tributes extended beyond the hockey world, with NBA star LeBron James, MLB star Mike Trout and politicians across Canada sending their condolences to the Gaudreau family.

含羞草研究社淛ohnny Gaudreau may have come up from the States, but hockey fans in Calgary, and across Canada, will remember him as one of our own,含羞草研究社� Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote.

One of Gaudreau含羞草研究社檚 most memorable moments as a Flame came on May 15, 2022, when he scored the Game 7 overtime winner to help Calgary eliminate the Dallas Stars in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

含羞草研究社淗is thousand-watt smile and infectious personality were matched only by his love for his family, friends, and those close to him,含羞草研究社� said Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, GM of the Flames from 2014 to 2023.

含羞草研究社淗e brought joy to everyone around him and to the many who never knew him but marvelled at his excellence on the ice.含羞草研究社�