On Tuesday night, the Calgary Flames held a heartfelt ceremony to honor former player Johnny Gaudreau before their match against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Gaudreau’s family members were present to commemorate the life of the beloved player, affectionately known as “Johnny Hockey.”

Having spent eight of his ten full NHL seasons with the Flames and two with the Blue Jackets, Gaudreau was celebrated with a video montage before the game. During pregame warmups, Flames players donned his jersey number 13, and his father, Guy, led a ceremonial puck drop with family members on the ice.

Tragically, Gaudreau, aged 31, along with his brother Matthew, 29, lost their lives in an accident on August 29 when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bikes in Salem County, New Jersey, near their hometown.

With tears in her eyes, Gaudreau’s wife Meredith shared with Sportsnet earlier Tuesday that she was eager to return to Calgary, “where it all began.”

“I’ve read all the messages,” she mentioned. “I still feel like it’s home away from home, so it’s really wonderful to be here. I’m excited for the fans to see the kids, and there’s so many people I’m looking forward to reuniting with tonight. I’m just really happy to be here.”

The Flames secured a 3-0 victory that night, with goaltender Dan Vladar wearing a special mask to pay tribute to the Gaudreau brothers, successfully blocking all 16 shots he faced.