Each the Columbus Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames held vigils on Wednesday night time to recollect Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. 1000’s of followers confirmed up at every vigil paying their respects to not solely two hockey gamers, however two nice folks.
One thought prevailed in Columbus because the night time went on. 1000’s of followers got here to pay their respects to a participant in Johnny who left an indelible mark on them. He performed two seasons for the Blue Jackets. Though they didn’t know him personally, he was like a member of their household.
The entire tales which have come out about Johnny and Matthew have pointed to 1 main theme. When you noticed one brother, you probably noticed the opposite not far-off. To those who knew the brothers personally, they obtained to see their bond in motion. It was unbreakable.
Johnny made some essential choices in his life primarily based on desirous to be along with his brother Matthew. That’s real love in its purest kind. It’s one of many biggest issues anybody can do.
Johnny carried over that spirit to the way in which he performed the sport of hockey. He introduced followers out of their seats. He might have been small in measurement however you couldn’t measure the dimensions of his coronary heart. He performed the sport in a manner that had spotlight reels consistently rolling whereas additionally respecting the sport and enjoying it the proper manner.
With that stated, a query contemplated on Wednesday night time because the vigil befell was how can the NHL be certain that Johnny’s legacy is honored and by no means forgotten? Right here’s my proposal. Given the way in which he performed the sport on the highest stage of talent and respect, the NHL ought to rename the Woman Byng Memorial Trophy to the Johnny Gaudreau Memorial Trophy.
The Final Honor
Johnny gave every part to the game he love rising up. That’s all he needed to do. He needed to play as a lot hockey as he may.
Though the chances might have been stacked towards him on the outset, Johnny overcame each impediment thrown his manner. He was capable of adapt his recreation to the NHL and did it in such a manner the place he was constantly probably the most gentlemanly gamers. Sportsmanship topped the record of attributes that made him a famous person.
The Woman Byng Trophy has been a fixture within the NHL going again to the 1924-25 season when it was first awarded. The trophy was donated by Marie Evelyn Moreton (generally known as Woman Byng). She requested the primary winner Frank Nighbor of the Ottawa Senators if she thought the NHL would settle for it as an award for probably the most gentlemanly participant. When he stated sure, she awarded him the trophy.
New York Rangers’ Frank Boucher gained the trophy seven of eight years to which Woman Byng ultimately allowed him to maintain the unique trophy. This led to a second trophy being donated in the course of the 1935-36 season. Upon her passing in 1949, the NHL offered one other trophy and formally modified the identify to the “Woman Byng Memorial Trophy.” That has been in place since.
Often, new awards are launched for quite a lot of causes. Given how Gaudreau performed the sport, each with excessive talent and excessive sportsmanship, there’s a sturdy argument for his identify to hold on the legacy of what it means to play hockey with good sportsmanship.
Making Argument to Replace Identify
Whereas there’s numerous historical past round Woman Byng and the way the trophy got here to be, most followers in the present day aren’t capable of relate to one thing that befell earlier than they have been born. A reputation change right here would enable followers to have the ability to relate to the magnitude of a transfer like this.
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau tragically handed away on the night time of Aug 29 on account of being hit whereas driving bikes by a suspected drunk driver. Given the overwhelming outpouring of help all through the hockey world particularly in Columbus and Calgary, a reputation change would enable followers to recollect Johnny’s legacy and the affect he had on the sport of hockey.
In elements of 11 seasons between the Flames and Blue Jackets, Johnny scored 243 targets together with 500 assists for 743 factors in 763 video games. He’s thought-about one of many biggest U.S. born gamers of all-time.
Johnny completed all of that whereas by no means taking greater than 26 penalty minutes in a season. He gained the Woman Byng Memorial Trophy in 2016-17 when he took simply 4 penalty minutes in 72 video games.
In all, Johnny completed with a complete of 176 penalty minutes in his 11 NHL seasons. Not counting 2013-14 when he made his NHL debut, that’s a mean of 17.6 penalty minutes per season or beneath 10 minor penalties taken. That’s the very definition of gentlemanly play. He averaged virtually 19:00 per recreation he performed in as effectively.
Last Ideas
If there was one factor that was clear being on the Columbus vigil and watching the Calgary vigil, it’s that the Gaudreau’s have been universally beloved within the hockey world. Not one dangerous factor was stated about them within the midst of all of the outpouring of affection and help.
The Gaudreau’s have been gents on the ice. They have been extra so off the ice. Johnny performed his NHL profession and lived his private life in probably the most gentlemanly manner doable.
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That’s why the NHL ought to contemplate altering the identify of the Woman Byng Memorial Trophy to the Johnny Gaudreau Memorial Trophy. His life and legacy together with Matthew need to be remembered within the highest regard. Renaming this main award would accomplish that whereas giving current-day followers a strategy to proceed to have fun who they have been on and off the ice.
Let’s hope the NHL agrees with this ultimately and offers the Gaudreau’s the final word honor of being the namesake on one of many recreation’s biggest trophies.
