John Tortorella welcomes Guy Gaudreau as special guest at Flyers practice
Torts may be tough but the Philadelphia Flyers bench boss knows how to bring people together!
This morning, Coach John Tortorella invited Guy Gaudreau, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's dad, to join the Flyers on the ice as a special guest.
It's a nice touch, especially since both Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, who were fatally struck by drunk driver Sean Higgins while riding their bikes in Salem County New Jersey on August 29, had deep Philly roots.
Johnny was a Junior Flyer growing up, and Matthew even spent time coaching the Philadelphia Rebels in the NAHL. The Rebels paid tribute to the Gaudreau family before their home opener, which was a classy move.
As a young man, Guy was a standout athlete at Norwich University in Vermont, He made a name for himself as one of the top forwards in the state while playing at North Country Union High School in Newport. He scored 118 goals in high school and 88 at Norwich, graduating with a degree in physical education in 1979.
Guy played a pivotal role in popularizing hockey in the area, especially at Hollydell Ice Arena, which has now been renamed the Gaudreau Rink. It was there that his sons learned the game and were coached by him, while practicing and playing alongside the championship Gloucester Catholic team in high school.
And it's not just the Gaudreaus getting some Torts hospitality-he also invited former NHL head coach Jay Woodcroft to watch the team last week.
Tortorella's building something special here, bringing in familiar faces and mentors to create a sense of family and community.
| POLL | ||
23 SEPTEMBRE | 121 ANSWERS John Tortorella welcomes Guy Gaudreau as special guest at Flyers practice What do you think about Guy Gaudreau being invited to the Flyers' practice? | ||
| Great move | 88 | 72.7 % |
| More teams should do this | 33 | 27.3 % |
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