Flames hosting vigil to mourn Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau on Wednesday
The Calgary Flames will be hosting a candlelight vigil on Wednesday to mourn the deaths of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew.
Johnny and Matthew were fatally struck by a vehicle while riding bicycles in New Jersey Thursday night.
The event will begin at 8 p.m. and is expected to be 45 minutes, including a 13-minute vigil and speakers from the Flames.
The vigil will mark day one of a 13-day observance for fans to visit a memorial that has been created by fans on the steps of the Saddledome.
Digital “candles” used for the vigil will be available to attendees through the Calgary Flames app.
Stampede Trail will be closed between 14th Avenue and 17th Avenue S.E. for the event.
Parking is available in the 11th Avenue Lot (north) and Stampede lots, with access via 25th Avenue. Passholder parking is available for season ticket members.
The event will also be streamed live on the Calgary Flames’ website.
Parts of memorial relocated
Some parts of the memorial on the steps of the Saddledome have been relocated, with the arena set to host a Kings of Leon concert on Tuesday night.
“In preparation for the tribute and with a concert at the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight, we will be relocating a portion of the mementos that have been left in homage to Johnny and Matthew on the west stairs,” the Flames said in a news release.
In the meantime, fans are encouraged to leave any further mementos on the grassy area to the north of the stairs.
“Thank you for all the love and support you have provided during this difficult time,” the team said.
A steady stream of hockey fans have been coming to the Saddledome since Thursday, leaving flowers, balloons jerseys, purple Gatorade and Skittles on the steps to honour “Johnny Hockey.”
Jarome Iginla, the Flames’ special advisor to the general manager and former captain, offered his condolences to the Gaudreau family in a post on Tuesday.
“While I never had the privilege to play with Johnny, the times we met or played against each other, I could feel how special he was. His love of the game and positive energy radiated from him. "Johnny Hockey" made our sport better in many special ways,” Iginla said.
“My family and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to have spent time with him, and we will always be his fans.”
Johnny and Matthew were in New Jersey to attend their sister’s wedding, which has been postponed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Donald Trump was the subject of 'an assassination attempt,' FBI reports
The FBI said Donald Trump was the target of “what appears to be an attempted assassination” at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday.
B.C. to open 'highly secure' involuntary care facilities
B.C. will be opening “highly secure facilities” for people with addiction and mental health issues in the province, officials said Sunday.
TONIGHT Canada's Eugene and Dan Levy set to become first father-son duo to host Emmys
The stars and co-creators of CBC's 'Schitt's Creek' take the reins as several Canadians compete for trophies, including D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Martin Short.
They came from Jamaica for work, now they're homeless and out thousands of dollars in lost wages
Abuse of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program has left a group of carpenters from Jamaica 'destitute' after an Ottawa company refused to pay them for nearly half a year of work.
Air Canada deal avoids shutdown, brings relief to passengers and business groups
Travellers, business groups and politicians expressed fervent relief on Sunday after Air Canada and the union representing thousands of its pilots negotiated a new labour deal and averted a disruptive, countrywide shutdown.
Montreal bars, restaurants react to Quebec bill to regulate merchant tipping requests
Quebec tabled a bill on Thursday that would regulate how merchants determine suggested tips, forcing businesses to calculate them based on the price before tax. Restaurant staff and management are divided on the policy.
Queen Victoria's favourite Tuscan villa for sale for more than US$55 million
Once a favoured holiday destination for Queen Victoria, and reputedly described in one of the greatest works of Italian literature, the Villa Palmieri is steeped in history and could now be yours – if you have more than €50 million (US$55 million) lying around.
Liberals will let Conservatives hold non-confidence vote 'fairly soon', no intention of proroguing Parliament
The Liberals have no intention of using procedural tactics to delay the Conservatives' promised non-confidence motion, and they have no plans to prorogue Parliament to hold onto power, according to Government House Leader Karina Gould.
Carbon pricing to cause economic 'nuclear winter,' Poilievre tells his MPs
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre signaled the Liberals' carbon price and the economy will remain his prime target when Parliament resumes this week.