Late NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his close friend and former teammate Sean Monahan shared a special bond that was evident in a throwback moment that Johnny’s mother, Jane Gaudreau, recently reminisced about. Taking to her Instagram stories, Jane shared a tweet from 2022 that captured the emotional night when Johnny scored his last overtime winner in a Calgary Flames jersey.
In the tweet, Jane expressed how the most emotional moment for her was when she saw Sean Monahan waiting near the tunnel to embrace Johnny after the game. She tearfully recalled the moment, saying, “I cried a couple of times today…when John told me he was going to wear an ‘A’ tonight and when he had the game-winning goal in OT, but neither of those times did I cry as much as I did when I saw Sean waiting for John to come down the tunnel to give him a big hug.”
The unforgettable goal came in Game 7 of the 2022 first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars, with Johnny scoring at 15:09 in overtime, propelling Calgary to the second round for the first time since 2015. It was also the Flames’ first Game 7 win in 16 years, making it a truly historic and emotional moment for the team and its fans.
In a separate development, Johnny Gaudreau was recently honored by being included in the NHL All Quarter-Century Team, which recognizes top players who began their NHL careers after 2010. Despite his tragic passing last year, Johnny’s legacy lives on through his impressive career stats, including 243 goals and 500 assists in 763 games played over 11 seasons in the NHL.
Johnny’s parents, Guy and Jane, expressed their overwhelming pride and emotion at seeing their son honored in this way. In a joint statement shared on the Instagram account of their family foundation, they thanked the NHL, Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets, and fans for recognizing Johnny’s talent and dedication to the game. They also mentioned their continued support for causes that were important to Johnny and his brother Matthew.
As the hockey community continues to remember and honor Johnny Gaudreau’s contributions to the sport, his legacy remains a source of inspiration for players and fans alike. His remarkable career and the special moments he shared with his teammates, like Sean Monahan, serve as a reminder of the camaraderie and bonds that make hockey such a special and meaningful sport.
