Guy Gaudreau serves as guest coach at Flyers practice

 

The Philadelphia Flyers' training camp in Voorhees, New Jersey, welcomed Guy Gaudreau, the father of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, as a guest coach on Monday.

Gaudreau attended at Flyers coach John Tortorella's invitation.

Matthew, a former professional hockey player, and Johnny, a forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, were killed on August 29 when they were hit by a car while riding bicycles close to their home in Salem County, New Jersey, which is approximately 30 miles southwest of the Flyers' practice facility.

Longtime hockey coach Guy Gaudreau trained his sons at Gloucester Catholic High School and Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, New Jersey.

"He's a coach and he's done some great work with some of the youth out here," Tortorella said. "I figured it's perfect to get him in with us. He was hesitant at first and we let him go at his timetable. I think it worked out really well today."

That included banging his stick on the boards and criticizing how Tortorella was running practice.

"He's giving me [grief] that I was yelling at the players to skate harder," Tortorella said. "'You've only got three lines out here how much harder can they go?' So, he's paying attention. It was good."

The players spent time talking to Gaudreau on the ice and all shook his hand after practice ended.

Tortorella stated that he extended an invitation to Gaudreau to accompany the Flyers to Bell Centre on Monday for their preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens; however, Gaudreau responded that this was a little too soon.

However, Tortorella hopes Gaudreau will return before camp concludes, ideally with a drill or two for the guys to run. Gaudreau has a copy of Tortorella's training camp itinerary.

On September 9, Tortorella went to the Gaudreau brothers' funeral in Media, Pennsylvania. Although he never got the chance to meet Johnny or Matthew, he thinks it's crucial to ensure them feel like they belong in the Flyers organization because of the family's proximity to Philadelphia.