The Flyers had a particular visitor on the ice on Monday for coaching camp on the group’s facility in Voorhees, New Jersey.
Man Gaudreau, the daddy of the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, was serving to to run drills throughout coaching camp after he was an invited visitor by head coach John Tortorella and the Flyers’ group.
Like so many throughout the hockey world, Tortorella was touched by the tragic deaths of the 2 Gaudreau brothers final month after they had been struck by a motorist whereas using their bikes in New Jersey.
Tortorella instructed reporters after the skate that he had by no means meet Man Gaudreau or Johnny or Matthew Gaudreau, however he needed to do one thing for the household within the wake of the tragedy.
“I by no means met Johnny and Matt in my travels as coach,” Tortorella stated, in accordance with the Related Press. “However their household’s right here. Horrific state of affairs occurring. He’s a coach. He’s achieved some nice work with among the youth out right here. I figured it’s good simply to get him in with us.”
The Flyers coach had attended the brothers’ funeral final month in Pennsylvania and he commented on how their two wives had been “so robust” by means of all the loss.
“Nobody can think about. Nobody can,” he stated. “I’m hoping to get to know the household. I feel quite a few coaches wish to get to know the household, the ladies, Matt’s household. It’s simply horrible what occurred. It’s nonetheless fairly recent. It’s right here. It’s with us. Down the road. We simply wish to be a part of it and try to assist.”
Flyers gamers on Monday confirmed appreciation for Man Gaudreau being there on Monday, shaking his hand after the follow and tapping their sticks.
Tortorella stated jokingly that he had been giving him a tough time for being so laborious on his gamers.
“He was hesitant at first, and we sort of let him go at his timetable,” Tortorella stated. “I feel it labored out very well right this moment. I gave him my camp e book. We’re going to test in subsequent week and see if we are able to get him out right here a pair extra instances and have him be a part of it. I don’t need it to be, ‘Simply come out right here.’ I would like him to be a part of it. I feel it will likely be therapeutic for him to be round us and run some drills.”