Washington Capitals players, past and present, mourn Johnny Gaudreaus tragic death
The NHL world |A|
was faced with a |B|
devastating loss on Friday |C|
morning when the league |D|
announced the tragic passing |E|
of star forward Johnny |F|
Gaudreau and his brother |G|
Matthew. The pair, in |H|
New Jersey to be |J|
groomsmen at their sisters |K|
wedding, were struck by |L|
a suspected drunk driver |M|
as they biked on |O|
County Route 551 in |P|
Oldmans Township. The Washington |Q|
Capitals, as an organization, |R|
were one of many |S|
around the league to |U|
issue a statement. The |V|
team wrote on social |Y|
media: The Washington Capitals |Z|
organization stands with the |A|
Columbus Blue Jackets and |B|
the hockey community as |C|
we send our deepest |D|
condolences and mourn the |E|
tragic passion of Johnny |F|
and Matthew Gaudreau. Our |G|
hearts ache for the |H|
entire Gaudreau family and |J|
the Columbus Blue Jackets |K|
organization during this incredibly |L|
difficult time. Many Capitals |M|
players were rocked by |O|
the news and took |P|
to their Instagrams to |Q|
share their grief and |R|
send condolences to the |S|
Gaudreau family. Notably, four |U|
players in the Capitals |V|
organization were teammates with |Y|
Gaudreau in the past. |Z|
“There |M| are no words, were |O| all going to miss |P| you,” Mangiapane wrote. “Love |Q| you little guy.
Most |R| recently, Ryan Leonard and |S| Charlie Lindgren were Gaudreaus |U| teammates internationally at the |V| 2024 IIHF World Championship |Y| in Czechia. During the |Z| tournament, Gaudreau became the |A| United States all-time leading |B| point-scorer (43). The US |C| was eliminated in the |D| quarterfinals by Czechia — |E| the eventual winner of |F| the tournament.
Leonard, who |G| currently attends Boston College, |H| Gaudreaus alma mater, posted |J| a photo on his |K| Instagram Story standing with |L| Johnny Hockey as the |M| American flag was raised |O| to the rafters. “RIP
|P| dir="ltr">Capitals defenseman Trevor van |Q| Riemsdyk also played with |R| Gaudreau as a member |S| of the United States |U| 2017 World Championship team.
|V| dir="ltr">Past and present players |Y| from the Capitals organization |Z| shared many other notable |A| remembrances.
“Thoughts and prayers |B| to the Gaudreau family,” |C| TJ Oshie wrote.
Sam |D| Anas, a member of |E| the Hershey Bears 2023 |F| Calder Cup championship team |G| currently playing for the |H| KHLs Dinamo Minsk, credited |J| Gaudreau as an inspirational |K| player.
“Johnny truly carved |L| a path for “small” |M| guys in the hockey |O| world,” Anas said. “I |P| went from playing against |Q| him in squirts, to |R| idolizing his game. Johnny |S| Hockey will live on |U| forever.”
Former Capitals draft |V| pick, Riley Barber, became |Y| an admirer of Gaudreaus |Z| when they played together |A| on the same USHL |B| team, the Dubuque Fighting |C| Saints, during the 2010-11 |D| season. Theyd go on |E| to win gold together |F| on the United States |G| 2013 U20 World Junior |H| Championship team.
“Johnny, Im |J| going to miss you |K| brother, I remember meeting |L| you my first day |M| in Dubuque at 16,” |O| Barber said. “We were |P| both away from home |Q| for the first time. |R| My dad looked at |S| me and said “whose |U| little brother is that?” |V| I said dad, thats |Y| Johnny!! Hes the best |Z| player Ive ever seen |A| and hes on our |B| team. You were so |C| good you didnt even |D| have to tie your |E| skates. Rest easy.”
Hockey |F| Hall of Famer and |G| former Capitals goaltender, Henrik |H| Lundqvist, shared his disbelief. |J| As a member of |K| the New York Rangers, |L| Lundqvist defended the net |M| against Gaudreau during his |O| finest seasons in the |P| NHL.
“Hard to believe,” |Q| Lundqvist wrote. “So tragic. |R| RIP Johnny.”
Other |S| remembrances and salutes on |U| social media included:
“Praying |V| for the Gaudreau family,” |Y| Jakob Chychrun said. “Wishing |Z| they find peace in |A| this tragic time. ”
“Johnny |B| Hockey ,” Dylan Strome wrote.
|C| dir="ltr">“Rest in peace,” former |D| Capital Andre Burakovsky said.
|E| dir="ltr">“My heart is shattered,” |F| John Carlsons wife, Gina |G| Carlson, wrote. “I met |H| his family at an |J| all star weekend years |K| ago, the nicest, sweetest |L| family. I cant wrap |M| my head around this. |O| Praying so hard for |P| this family. Prayers to |Q| the heavens for Johnny |R| and Matthew Gaudreau. Please |S| pray for this family |U| to get through this |V| unimaginable loss. God please |Y| carry them.”
“My deepest |Z| sympathies, condolences, and prayers |A| to the Gaudreau family |B| and their friends on |C| such a sad and |D| devastating loss of precious |E| lives on a weekend |F| that was supposed to |G| be about unity, celebration, |H| and love,” Monumental Sports |J| Networks Alan May said. |K| “I cannot imagine the |L| hurt and suffering that |M| everyone is experiencing. All |O| my prayers to every |P| family member and loved |Q| one affected by this |R| tragic event.”
“Absolutely heartbreaking |S| and devastating,” added Craig |U| Laughlin.
Perhaps former Capitals |V| defenseman Zdeno Chara then |Y| spoke for us all |Z| when he shared a |A| broken heart emoji.
