The Calgary Stampeders used Monday’s Labour Day Classic to honour the memory of a local hockey legend who was tragically killed this past week.
The Stampeders held a 13-second moment of silence for Johnny Gaudreau before the game, matching his jersey number. Several players arrived at McMahon Stadium wearing his jersey and many more were visible throughout the venue.
Gaudreau was killed by a suspected drunk driver on Aug. 29 in Oldmans Township, N.J., which is located only 15 miles north of his hometown of Salem. His brother, Matthew, was also killed in the incident.
The five-foot-nine, 165-pound left winger was drafted with the No. 104 overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames and played 602 career games with the team, scoring 210 goals and 609 points. He signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets as a free agent following the 2021-2022 season and played 161 games over two years with the club, recording 33 goals and 134 points.
Gaudreau was 31 and was survived by his wife, Meredith, and two children.
Calgary lost to the Edmonton Elks by a score of 35-20, dropping the Labour Day Classic for only the second time since 2012. Jake Maier threw four interceptions for the Stampeders, while McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for a career-high 486 yards and three touchdowns for Edmonton.
The Stampeders (4-7) will visit the Elks (4-8) for the second half of the annual Labour Day home-and-home on Saturday, Sept. 7 with kickoff at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
