Bob Hartley is in shock and pays tribute to his former player Johnny Gaudreau

The hockey world is deeply affected by the tragic death of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew.

They were fatally struck while cycling on Thursday evening in New Jersey.

Bob Hartley, who was Johnny Gaudreau's first NHL coach, had a special bond with Johnny and his family. The NHL star participated in Bob Hartley's hockey school every summer.

Hartley shared his memories on social media:

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The unimaginable has happened. It is with great sadness that I learned this morning of the passing of Johnny and his brother.

Johnny arrived in the NHL in 2014, and I had the privilege of being his head coach. In his very first full season with the Flames in 2014-15, we made it to the second round that year.

He and Sean Monahan grew up together in the Flames environment and became close friends.

Beyond being a hockey player, Johnny was an extraordinary person. He was always eager to give back to his sport. Johnny would often spend time at my hockey school, and he loved helping the young players.

Here is a video that shows how much Johnny impressed me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5RBHueAxzs

My condolences to the family, his friends, and the hockey world.

The hockey community is coming together during this difficult time.

POLL
30 AOUT \| 103 ANSWERS Bob Hartley is in shock and pays tribute to his former player Johnny Gaudreau Was Johnny Gaudreau one of the best small players in the NHL?
Yes	97	94.2 %
No	6	5.8 %
LIST OF POLLS

Bob Hartley is in shock and pays tribute to his former player Johnny Gaudreau

The hockey world is deeply affected by the tragic death of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew.

Was Johnny Gaudreau one of the best small players in the NHL?