Stefen Rosner on Morning Cuppa Hockey Talking Islanders On August 29, 2024, Columbus Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/] forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were tragically killed biking home from their sister's rehearsal dinner. Johnny was 31. Matthew was 29. While none of the current New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] were ever teammates with Johnny in his stops with the Calgary Flames and Columbus, captain Anders Lee and Brock Nelson played with him on the international stage with Team USA. "I was fortunate enough to play with Johnny at a few World Championships," Lee said. "We had some wonderful times with him, not just on the ice, but away from it, having fun and being around him. You've heard a lot about him, but he is such a solid guy. He was a special person and a special talent, and my heart goes out to his family, and he's truly missed in our community. "It was a true honor and a pleasure to be able to have a couple of tournaments with him and get to know him a little bit. It's heartbreaking.” Lee looked back on some fond memories with Johnny Hockey. “We go over there, you play in the World Championships, and you get to meet a lot of guys, and see a lot of guys you played against, and get to play for the country, which is extremely special," Lee said. "But you go and play hard, and then there's also opportunities to have some fun. We had some fun nights with Johnny and the team, enjoying each other's company, having a few drinks, and hanging out. Those are a lot of the memories that I'll be taking with me with getting to know Johnny. "He was just really fun away from the rink, but I also played on the line with him in one of the tournaments, and just the good hockey that we played, and the way he made it easy for with his talent -- he'll put it on your tape for you -- so I definitely have some fond memories of him.” Nelson, who played many international tournaments with Johnny, had the privilege to play with him at the 2024 World Championships back in May in Czechia. At that tournament, Johnny broke Patrick Kane's all-time American career points and assists record: “I was fortunate to be able to play with him at a couple of World Championships," Nelson said. "He was just a happy guy, really soft-spoken, reserved, just quiet, and went about his business. He was a great teammate and friend to a lot of guys. He meant a lot as a hockey player, but beyond that, he was a brother, husband, father, and son, and he was just a good guy. "He comes from a great family. So it's just a horrible situation and tragedy. You give the family your best thoughts and prayers, and it's just something unthinkable.” Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwMzQ4NTE5NzcxMzUwMjIw/usatsi_8308432.jpg] The Islanders battle Columbus on Wednesday night, which will be a game filled with emotions. "I think for anybody that knew Johnny, the first time going back there, it'll probably bring up a lot of memories for guys and different emotions." Nelson said. "There's not much to say beyond that, and then just giving the family anything you can: support, thoughts, prayers, and just try to remember Johnny and the times he had. He was a special person.” While Islanders forward Bo Horvat never played with Gaudreau internationally, ailing from Canada, the two battled often when the Vancouver Canucks faced the Flames. "He was one of the best players I think I've ever had the privilege of playing against," Horvat said. "I had to go against him a lot being out west, and he was a pain in my butt for a long time, and I got the pleasure of playing with him in an All-Star Game (2017). He and I were linemates and connected on a couple, so just memories like that. "To me, it's hard to believe that he's gone, and it's such a tragic and awful thing, but the way the hockey community has come together, and I've seen some videos and stuff, of how strong his wife and his family have been, it's incredible, and it's just awful that he's gone,” Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwMzQ4NTUyNzg4OTExMzA4/usatsi_15446197.jpg] Horvat mentioned the community, a tight-knit hockey world that all became tighter to help the Gaudreau family in any way possible through an impossible situation. “It was special. Our community, our hockey community, is not that big. I mean, it certainly felt big after that, and I think that was really special the way everyone came out for him and his family and his brother," Lee said. "They were very much loved by the people that they knew and the people around them. So it was no surprise to see that. "You play long enough, you're around long enough, and you tend to run into a lot of guys. They were pretty special in their character and made a great impact on a lot of people. So it was great to see the support that they had and will have going forward.” Nelson echoed Lee's sentiments. “The hockey world is special, and I think it's a small, tight-knit community, and whenever something like that and a tragedy happens, everyone comes together and rallies for one another and is there to support everybody," Nelson said. "I think that as people, beyond the game, that's what everybody just does, and I think that's just the human nature and the human aspect of it outside of the game. You don't think about it until something like that happens, but I think everyone comes together and rallies.” Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwMzQ4NTY2NzQ3NTU1MDIw/usatsi_24500209.jpg] Johnny does have a spot in the Islanders' history books, scoring in the inaugural game at UBS Arena, an empty-net goal, in a 5-2 win for Calgary on Nov. 20, 2021. Our thoughts continue to go out to the Gaudreau family, and we hope that Johnny and Matthew's legacy as being incredible humans, outside of talented hockey players, lives on and inspires the next generation of young kids to follow in their footsteps and lead the way the led on and off the ice.
