Thousands of young hockey players across the country aspire to one day make it into the National Hockey League (NHL). They root for their own teams, they have their favorite players, but there is one man that they all have looked up to. For years, Johnny Gaudreau, nicknamed “Johnny Hockey,” has been an idol and a role model to many of these young players.

Standing at just 5’ 9”, Gaudreau’s stature was quite below that of a typical NHL player, but this was a major factor that allowed him to inspire so many young hockey players. Even with his height being below average which would be considered as a disadvantage, he was one of the better and more successful players on the ice, compiling 743 points in 763 games. Young kids, lacking physical size due to their age, would witness the remarkable feats of this NHL star and realize the infinite possibilities of what they could achieve on the ice, regardless of their size.

As the young prodigy Connor Bedard put it, “I’m not a big guy. I’m one of the smaller players in the League. Getting to watch someone like him and see him, I guess, dominate the Canucks especially when I was watching at home, he’s up there. He’s got no excuses. Why can’t I do it?”

However, to the profound sense of loss and sorrow for both these young players and for NHL fans on August 29, 2024, disaster struck. Gaudreau and his brother were visiting their home state, New Jersey, for their sister’s wedding. The night before the wedding, Gaudreau and his brother, Matt, were cycling along a street in Oldmans Township when a drunk driver hit them from behind, resulting in the tragic death of them both.

“Just devastating news for all of us connected with the Gaudreau family,” said former coach of Gaudreau, Jerry York. “Both Matty and Johnny were terrifically admired by all of us.”

Johnny Gaudreau will be remembered as one of the greatest and most influential NHL players out there. He was a loving husband and father, a role model, a great player, and a good-hearted person overall. Even though he’s no longer with us, he is still a source of inspiration and encouragement for us all. The world would be a better place with more people like him.