Flames to repurpose items from Johnny Gaudreau memorial

The Calgary Flames will repurpose items left at a memorial for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau to fundraise for local charities, including creating hockey stick benches in the brothers’ memory.

Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were struck by what police say was a drunken driver while riding bicycles Aug. 29 on a rural road in New Jersey, on the evening before they were set to serve as groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding. The driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins of nearby Woodstown, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.

The Flames had a 13-day dedicatory period at their arena in which fans could leave keepsakes to show support for the Gaudreau family; Johnny Gaudreau started his NHL career in Calgary and played there through the 2021-22 season. On Monday, the team announced an “enduring tribute strategy” in the removal of those items.

“The Calgary Flames sincerely appreciate the care and concern demonstrated by Flames fans and the entire community through this difficult period. The outpouring of love and support has been truly comforting,” said the team in a statement.

Before anything was touched, all items placed at the memorial and chalk drawings on the ground were photographed to create a digital memory book that the Flames will gift to the Gaudreau family on behalf of the fans.

Hockey sticks that were left at the memorial will be turned into hockey stick benches to be used in fundraising efforts for local charities. They’ll have plaques that read “In memory of Johnny & Matthew Gaudreau” to identify their origins.

Jerseys at the memorial will be laundered and used to design blankets that will be donated to local charitable organizations.

The Calgary Flames Foundation will “make a commensurate financial contribution to the Calgary Food Bank” after counting up the bags of Skittles left at the memorial. Johnny Gaudreau said that was the candy his father used as an enticement to teach Gaudreau how to skate as a child.

Bottles of purple sports drink — Johnny Gaudreau’s preferred flavor — will be emptied and donated to the KidSport Calgary recycling program.

Stuffed toys such as teddy bears will be donated to Parachutes for Pets, a charity supported by Flames players Mikael Backlund and MacKenzie Weegar that provides resources so children in care can stay with their pets.

Finally, any flowers collected from the memorial will be sent to compost, with soil from the flowers deposited at community parks around the city.