Father of Late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Helps to Coach Philadelphia Flyers' Practice: 'Therapeutic for Him'

Mar. 15, 2025

Guy Gaudreau.Photo:The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP

The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP

Guy Gaudreau is creating a special bond with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Tortorellatoldreporters that he reached out to Gaudreau — who was “hesitant at first” about participating — to gauge interest in the opportunity to work with the Philadelphia hockey team.

“I called him and I wanted to know if he wanted to come out,” Tortorella shared.

“We let him go at his timetable,” the head coach said, adding that Gaudreau has “done some great work with some of the youth out here.”

Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau.Richard T Gagnon/Getty

Richard T Gagnon/Getty

On Monday, Sept. 23, Gaudreau joined the hockey team for their practice in New Jersey, where he ran drills with the players and spent time talking to them on the ice.

The Flyers practice in Voorhees, New Jersey, roughly 30 miles from Salem County, where the brothers were fatally hit on the night before they were set to serve as groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding.

“I don’t want it to be just come out here, I want him to be a part of it,” Tortorella said during his press conference with reporters. “I think it would be therapeutic for him to be around us and run some drills. He has done it before, he’s a coach.”

Tortorella said that the practice on Monday was the first time he met Gaudreau, and he never had the opportunity to meet Johnny or Matthew before their untimely deaths. Johnny played for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, but never the Flyers during his NHL career.

“It’s pretty close to home here as far as with his family and all and what has gone on there,” Tortorella told the outlet of the “horrific situation” that unfolded on Aug. 29.

Tortorella said, “I think it worked out really well today,” of the practice with Gaudreau. “I gave him my camp book, we’re going to check in next week and see if we can get him out here a couple of more times, have him be a part of it.”

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Meredithannounced the news at the brothers’ memorial service earlier this month.

source: people.com