As a fellow member of a prominent Calgary-based sports organization, Corey Mace inevitably crossed paths with Johnny Gaudreau.
Gaudreau was a productive and popular member of the NHL’s Calgary Flames from 2014 to 2022. For most of that time, Mace was employed by the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders — who, like the Flames, are owned by the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation.
So the sad news hit home for Mace when he learned that Gaudreau and his younger brother, Matthew, had been killed on Thursday when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bicycles in Salem County, N.J.
Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were to be groomsmen at the since-postponed wedding of their sister, Katie, on Friday in Philadelphia.
“It’s very rough news, obviously,” Mace, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head coach, said on Friday.
“Love to his family and his hockey families and the communities that he has been in. I know the importance of what he meant to the city of Calgary.
“It’s horrible, man. That’s tough.”
The player known as “Johnny Hockey” exuded joy when he played the game and carried that spirit into every-day life.
“He was always smiling,” recalled Mace, who was a defensive tackle (2010 to 2015) and defensive line coach (2016 to 2021) with the Stampeders.
“He just seemed to enjoy every moment. He took time for people.
“Obviously, being him in that city at that time, it would be hard to argue that there was anybody else who would get everybody riled up.”
There was a clamour for autographs, selfies and the like whenever Gaudreau made a community appearance.
That, too, resonated with Mace, who immersed himself in charitable and community-based endeavours throughout his time in Calgary while embracing his status as a role model.
“Whether you want to be or not, just being associated with this team and being a professional athlete, it comes with the territory,” he said after Friday’s practice.
“We spoke about gratitude today — just being grateful for being here. Hard times or non-hard times, it’s a blessing.
“(News about the Gaudreau brothers) put perspective, certainly, in my mind this morning and I just wanted to share that with the team.
“It was about just having gratitude about being able to do what you love around people who you care about, because there’s no exceptions at any time.
“We don’t have that choice, unfortunately.”
“A SILVER LINING”
The Roughriders’ injury report is considerably shorter than usual.
As a result, the Roughriders’ lineup should be largely unaltered when they face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Sunday’s Labour Day Classic (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
“As coaches and everybody aligned with any organization, you always hope for continuity,” Mace said. “It certainly helps on a week-to-week basis.
“Ultimately, we understand that it’s physical sport. We haven’t had the best of luck at times, but that’s why we stress the importance of everybody understanding their job, because you will be counted on and the standard is always the standard for us here.”
Forty-one players have started on offence or defence for Saskatchewan over the first 11 games of the 2024 CFL season. Sixty-five players have dressed for at least one regular-season game.
“There’s definitely a silver lining to that,” Mace noted. “Knock on wood, if something happens down the line and we need guys to step up, you most likely now have guys who have taken live reps throughout the season.
“Or, if there’s something that we feel is a better matchup for us and we want to put somebody else in a different position, we have that option, just because we’ve seen it.
“If you’re not a starter and you don’t have X amount of games, chances are you’re getting thrown into a position for the first time or live bullets are flying with not a lot of reps behind you.
“At that point, if they do get called on again, the moment won’t be too big.”
INJURY UPDATE
All eight players whose names appeared on the Roughriders’ latest injury update were full participants in Friday’s practice.
Defensive backs Nelson Lokombo (calf) and Jaxon Ford (wrist) are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
Lokombo, a starter since Day 1, has been anchored at safety since Week 2. Ford has been sidelined since the outset of training camp.
Defensive end Bryan Cox Jr., who was limited by a foot injury during Wednesday’s practice, followed up with back-to-back days of full participation. He is listed as available for Sunday.
Also available are defensive back Kosi Onyeka and receiver Jerreth Sterns, both of whom were healthy scratches last week.
Listed as out: Defensive back Amari Henderson (shoulder), fullback Bruno LaBelle (leg) and linebacker Nick Wiebe (knee).
