Following a 13-day dedicatory period for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau at the Saddledome, the Calgary Flames will start the next part of the tribute on Monday.
The Flames unveiled their plan to distribute items left at the arena to remember the Gaudreau brothers, who died last month when they were hit by a suspected drunk driver while bicycling in New Jersey.
Here are details of the plan.
Signs, messages and chalk: Photographs of the entire site will be given to the Gaudreau family.
Hockey sticks: The team will create hockey stick benches that will be used in fundraising efforts for local charities. Plaques on the benches will say “In memory of Johnny & Matthew Gaudreau.”
Skittles: The candies with old expiry dates will be counted and the Calgary Flames Foundation will make a commensurate financial contribution to the Calgary Food Bank.
Purple sports drinks: The containers will be emptied and donated to the KidSport Calgary recycling program. The program develops sports opportunities for local kids in need.
Stuffed toys: Toys made of cloth and cotton such will be donated to Parachutes for Pets, a charity supported by Flames players Mikael Backlund and Mackenzie Weegar. The toys will also help the Backlund family’s Lily and Dexter Legacy program – which helps children in care can stay with their pets by providing essential support such as leashes, collars, vet care, vaccines and licensing.
Jerseys: The uniforms will used to design blankets that will be donated to local charities.
Flowers: Organics will be collected and sent to compost. Soil from the flowers will be deposited in the earth at parks around the city.
