Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Makiniemi, National TV Games, Matthew Gaudreau

Yeah.... it stings even today... 2 good guys cut down way way too early in life.

I simply cannot imagine the strength it must take for those families to carry on...

Hard to have any interest in the upcoming season at the moment. Absolute tragedy and my prayers go out to his family.

I do have a story about Johnny Hockey. About 11 or 12 years ago. My son's AAA Midget team was at a summer tournament at Hollydell rink in Wash. Twp. Johnny's home rink. There were teams of many levels including a Jr. A tournament. They put a local Jr team together and Johnny was on one of those teams. Word spread that he was playing. I think it was before he was leaving to go to college the season he ended up winning the Hobey Baker and not long after he was drafted by Calgary. The rink was packed with people and we had to squeeze up to the glass to watch him play. It was obvious that he was head and shoulders above every other player on the ice. After the game, I was amazed how he took his time to hang with all the little kids that swarmed him. He was genuine and kind with them and some even asked for him to sign their shirts, which of course he did. I became a fan of him right there. As it turns out, a vicious thunder storm swept through and blew out the electricity in the area. After hours of waiting, they canceled the tournament. That sucked because there were teams from Canada at that tournament. It also sucked because we didn't get to play or watch Johnny again.

May God rest his and Matthew's souls!

Hard to have any interest in the upcoming season at the moment. Absolute tragedy and my prayers go out to his family.

I do have a story about Johnny Hockey. About 11 or 12 years ago. My son's AAA Midget team was at a summer tournament at Hollydell rink in Wash. Twp. Johnny's home rink. There were teams of many levels including a Jr. A tournament. They put a local Jr team together and Johnny was on one of those teams. Word spread that he was playing. I think it was before he was leaving to go to college the season he ended up winning the Hobey Baker and not long after he was drafted by Calgary. The rink was packed with people and we had to squeeze up to the glass to watch him play. It was obvious that he was head and shoulders above every other player on the ice. After the game, I was amazed how he took his time to hang with all the little kids that swarmed him. He was genuine and kind with them and some even asked for him to sign their shirts, which of course he did. I became a fan of him right there. As it turns out, a vicious thunder storm swept through and blew out the electricity in the area. After hours of waiting, they canceled the tournament. That sucked because there were teams from Canada at that tournament. It also sucked because we didn't get to play or watch Johnny again.

May God rest his and Matthew's souls!
- Letterkenney

Nice memory. Thanks.

Yeah.... it stings even today... 2 good guys cut down way way too early in life.

I simply cannot imagine the strength it must take for those families to carry on...
- dozerD10

any they did nothing wrong they were just riding their bikes

meh just let kolosov go he's not really going to be a stud any w ay

Hard to have any interest in the upcoming season at the moment. Absolute tragedy and my prayers go out to his family.

I do have a story about Johnny Hockey. About 11 or 12 years ago. My son's AAA Midget team was at a summer tournament at Hollydell rink in Wash. Twp. Johnny's home rink. There were teams of many levels including a Jr. A tournament. They put a local Jr team together and Johnny was on one of those teams. Word spread that he was playing. I think it was before he was leaving to go to college the season he ended up winning the Hobey Baker and not long after he was drafted by Calgary. The rink was packed with people and we had to squeeze up to the glass to watch him play. It was obvious that he was head and shoulders above every other player on the ice. After the game, I was amazed how he took his time to hang with all the little kids that swarmed him. He was genuine and kind with them and some even asked for him to sign their shirts, which of course he did. I became a fan of him right there. As it turns out, a vicious thunder storm swept through and blew out the electricity in the area. After hours of waiting, they canceled the tournament. That sucked because there were teams from Canada at that tournament. It also sucked because we didn't get to play or watch Johnny again.

May God rest his and Matthew's souls!
- Letterkenney

Nice story, thanks.

Hard to have any interest in the upcoming season at the moment. Absolute tragedy and my prayers go out to his family.

I do have a story about Johnny Hockey. About 11 or 12 years ago. My son's AAA Midget team was at a summer tournament at Hollydell rink in Wash. Twp. Johnny's home rink. There were teams of many levels including a Jr. A tournament. They put a local Jr team together and Johnny was on one of those teams. Word spread that he was playing. I think it was before he was leaving to go to college the season he ended up winning the Hobey Baker and not long after he was drafted by Calgary. The rink was packed with people and we had to squeeze up to the glass to watch him play. It was obvious that he was head and shoulders above every other player on the ice. After the game, I was amazed how he took his time to hang with all the little kids that swarmed him. He was genuine and kind with them and some even asked for him to sign their shirts, which of course he did. I became a fan of him right there. As it turns out, a vicious thunder storm swept through and blew out the electricity in the area. After hours of waiting, they canceled the tournament. That sucked because there were teams from Canada at that tournament. It also sucked because we didn't get to play or watch Johnny again.

May God rest his and Matthew's souls!
- Letterkenney

My son played in that same tournament maybe a year later i think. lots of people were watching Johnny play for a U18 team i think. I'll never forget the game being stopped and then over the PA it was announced to all that he had just been drafted by the Flames. Loud applause, stick tapping, Johnny getting hugs.....

God, what an awful tragedy.

Yeah.... it stings even today... 2 good guys cut down way way too early in life.

I simply cannot imagine the strength it must take for those families to carry on...
- dozerD10

Leaving my house today I passed two men riding their bikes. My initial thought was to slow down and the Gaudreau brothers 😢

The profound tragedy makes me physically feel sick every time I think or read about it. The entire family… this transcends hockey. Prayers to the family. May God bless them and guide them through this unspeakable loss.

TyJo to Boston on PTO

TyJo to Boston on PTO
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I was hoping we would have given him a shot

I was hoping we would have given him a shot
- Bayareaflyer

That’s the last thing this team and especially torts needs , an aging vet to take a roster spot

HOLY (frank)

I literally just heard the news about the Gaudreau brothers........

I don't even know what to say other than (frank)ing Jersey

HOLY (frank)

I literally just heard the news about the Gaudreau brothers........

I don't even know what to say other than (frank)ing Jersey
- Glak18

i'm just so sad. dad talked to him a lot and got to know him. just (frank)ing tragic and I'm still processing it.

i'm just so sad. dad talked to him a lot and got to know him. just (frank)ing tragic and I'm still processing it.
- anti-lame

We all are. One of the worst calamities I can think of involving athletes. Beyond words.

Hard to have any interest in the upcoming season at the moment. Absolute tragedy and my prayers go out to his family.

I do have a story about Johnny Hockey. About 11 or 12 years ago. My son's AAA Midget team was at a summer tournament at Hollydell rink in Wash. Twp. Johnny's home rink. There were teams of many levels including a Jr. A tournament. They put a local Jr team together and Johnny was on one of those teams. Word spread that he was playing. I think it was before he was leaving to go to college the season he ended up winning the Hobey Baker and not long after he was drafted by Calgary. The rink was packed with people and we had to squeeze up to the glass to watch him play. It was obvious that he was head and shoulders above every other player on the ice. After the game, I was amazed how he took his time to hang with all the little kids that swarmed him. He was genuine and kind with them and some even asked for him to sign their shirts, which of course he did. I became a fan of him right there. As it turns out, a vicious thunder storm swept through and blew out the electricity in the area. After hours of waiting, they canceled the tournament. That sucked because there were teams from Canada at that tournament. It also sucked because we didn't get to play or watch Johnny again.

May God rest his and Matthew's souls!
- Letterkenney

Thanks for sharing. Up here in Canada, everyone I have been running into at the golf course and other places this weekend have been bringing the tragedy up first thing after saying hi. So sad and it’s impacted so many people who love the game and sports in general. Everyone is just a tad more somber

Johnny was always ready to smile.

My son played in that same tournament maybe a year later i think. lots of people were watching Johnny play for a U18 team i think. I'll never forget the game being stopped and then over the PA it was announced to all that he had just been drafted by the Flames. Loud applause, stick tapping, Johnny getting hugs.....

God, what an awful tragedy.
- Briere

If you were there when the electricity went out, that was the same year. That was the year he was drafted the year after (IIRC) and was then going to play at BC for his 2nd or 3rd year (IIRC) a few weeks after the tournament. I think it was 2012/13. That's why all the kids were asking for his autograph. I forget exactly what year it was but it was in that window between the draft and during his college years before turning pro.

If you were there when the electricity went out, that was the same year. That was the year he was drafted the year after (IIRC) and was then going to play at BC for his 2nd or 3rd year (IIRC) a few weeks after the tournament. I think it was 2012/13. That's why all the kids were asking for his autograph. I forget exactly what year it was but it was in that window between the draft and during his college years before turning pro.
- Letterkenney

He was drafted in 2011. so i guess it was June of 2011. I don't remember power going out. I do remember a French Canadian team that blew everyone off the ice until they ran into a team from Ukraine that played and traveled up and down the east coast that year. Funny what you remember so many years later....