Calgary Flames release stunning photo of Johnny Gaudreau memorial – after thousands of fans wrote messages in chalk outside the arena

Thousands of fans have paid their respects to the late NHL veteran Johnny Gaudreau at the home of his former team, the Calgary Flames, after he tragically died in a bicycle accident last week.

Gaudreau, 31, who previously played nine seasons for Calgary, and his younger brother Matthew, 29, died last Thursday after being hit by a car while cycling in New Jersey the night before their sister Katie's wedding.

The driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins of Woodstown, was charged with two counts of negligent homicide; he is not eligible for bail and is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

Johnny was set to begin his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets later that year, while Matthew was a professional hockey player in the ECHL. Both were set to be best men at Katie's wedding, which was then called off.

In light of the tragedy, grieving supporters flocked to the Scotiabank Saddledome to pay their final respects to the former Flames forward and his brother, with Calgary sharing a striking photo showing thousands of chalked messages and tributes outside its arena.

Thousands of fans paid their last respects to the late NHL veteran Johnny Gaudreau at the home stadium of his former team, the Calgary Flames.

Gaudreau, 31 (pictured with his wife Meredith and two children), and his younger brother Matthew, 29, died last Thursday after being hit by a car while cycling in New Jersey.

The NHL team wrote next to the photo: “Speechless.”

Gaudreau spent the first nine of his eleven NHL seasons with the Flames, becoming one of the game's best players and a fan favorite across North America.

Standing at 5'9″ and weighing 180 pounds, the winger was part of a generation of hockey players who thrived in an era of speed and skill when being undersized was less of a disadvantage. He scored 20-plus goals six times and was a 115-point player as a first-time NHL All-Star during the 2021-22 season, when he set personal bests with 40 goals and 75 assists.

Gaudreau helped Boston College win the 2012 NCAA championship and won the 2014 Hobey Baker Award as the country's best college player before being selected in the fourth round by Calgary in 2011.

As a professional, he was named to the All-Rookie Team in his first season in the NHL and finished third in voting for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year in 2014–15.

Brother Matthew never made it to the NHL, but last played for the Worcester Railers in the 2021-22 season. He also spent one season with the Reading Royals.

And to make the tragedy even worse, it was also revealed that his wife Madeline is currently expecting the couple's first child.

Johnny played 11 seasons in the NHL, while his brother Matthew (left) was a professional hockey player in the ECHL. The couple died the night before their sister Katie's wedding.

The hockey world is still shocked by the news of the tragic deaths of the two brothers last week.

Many of them flocked to the Scotiabank Saddledome Arena in Calgary to show their respect

A fan visits the memorial while donning Gaudreau's No. 13 jersey for the Flames last week

A GoFundMe page set up to support Madeline during her pregnancy following the death of her husband has already raised over $536,000 at the time of this writing.

Johnny leaves behind his wife Meredith and their two children: one-year-old daughter Noa and six-month-old son Johnny.

Meredith, who was also set to serve as maid of honor at her sister-in-law Katie's wedding, broke her silence on Saturday following the devastating loss of her husband and brother-in-law.

Alongside a selection of photos of the couple and their two children, she wrote: “The absolute best dad in the world. So caring and loving.”

“The best partner to navigate parenthood with. John never missed a single appointment. He was the best at rocking the baby to sleep and the apple of Noa's eye. I love how much she looks like him.”

“We will make you proud. We love you so, so much, Daddy.”

Johnny leaves behind his wife Meredith and their two children: daughter Noa (second from right), one year old, and six-month-old son Johnny (bottom left).

To add to the tragedy, Matthew's wife Madeline is currently expecting the couple's first child

Katie also spoke out after the loss of her two brothers, writing: “To know these two was to love them. I have no words to express the bond my family had.”

“The whole world knows that without Matty there would never have been a John and without John there would never have been a Matty.”

“The absolute best big brothers a little girl could ask for. This will never be a goodbye post because I will never stop saying your names and honoring you both.

“I will take the best possible care of Mom, Dad, Kristen, Mer, Madeline and your babies.”

In documents obtained by DailyMail.com, alleged drunk driver Higgins admitted to police that he had consumed “5-6 beers” before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and colliding with the Gaudreau brothers.

The accident occurred less than three miles from the Gaudreau family home, just hours before Katie was due to marry her partner Devin Joyce.

Sean M. Higgins, accused of killing the Gaudreau brothers in a horror drunken crash, admitted he had “five or six” drinks before getting behind the wheel

A graphic shows the accident in which Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau died on Thursday evening.

Higgins, a decorated U.S. Army officer and father of two, was driving two cars behind the Gaudreau brothers north on County Road 551 when he moved into the southbound lane to pass the vehicles in front of him. He easily passed one and was about to pass the second – an SUV – when its driver swerved into the middle of the road to safely pass Johnny and Matthew.

He then moved back into the northbound lane, hitting and killing both of them.

On Friday, police released a photo of him with glassy eyes in his mug shot after he was arrested and charged.

On Friday, Higgins made his first appearance via video link in Salem District Court, where he apparently sighed in frustration after being ordered to remain in custody until next Thursday.