Flyers coach John Tortorella invites Johnny Gaudreau's father to team practice: 'It's therapeutic for him'

Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella wants to be a source of solace for Guy Gaudreau.

Gaudreau's two sons, Johnny and Matthew, the former a star player for the Columbus Blue Jackets, were killed last month after being hit by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bicycles.

The Gaudreau couple grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and had come to the city for his sister's wedding, which was scheduled for the day after his death.

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“I've never met Johnny and Matt in all my time on the road as a coach,” Tortorella told reporters Monday at the Flyers' facility, “but their families are here. They're going through a horrible situation. He's a coach. He's done a great job with the young guys here. I thought it was a perfect fit to have him on the team.”

Tortorella acknowledged that Guy was hesitant “at first” to take up his longtime coaching offer, saying “we got him to leave on his schedule,” but said the late hockey player's father has no regrets and may return in the near future.

Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Johnny Gaudreau plays the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at the Bell Centre. (David Kirouac/USA Today Sports)

“I thought it went well today,” Tortorella said. “I gave him my notes from camp and we'll have him out here a couple more times next week and see if we can get him involved. I don't want it to be like, 'Just come here.' I want him to be involved. I think it'll be therapeutic for him to be with us and practice.”

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Tortorella joked that he was being nasty to Gaudreau, who yelled at his players to try harder during practice.

“A lot of people know him within the organization because of his reputation,” Tortorella said.

“Nobody can imagine it. Nobody can,” added Tortorella, who attended his brother's funeral earlier this month. “I want to get to know the family. I think some of the coaching staff want to get to know the family, the girls, Matt's family. It's awful what happened. It's still fresh in our minds. It's here. It's within us. It's across the street. We just want to be a part of it and help.”

Johnny and Matthew both played hockey at Boston University, and Matthew also played hockey for several minor league teams and was coaching at their alma mater, Gloucester Catholic High School, at the time of his brothers' deaths.

Boston College Eagles brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau celebrate after the Eagles defeated the Northeastern University Huskies to win the Beanpot Championship for the fifth consecutive year during an NCAA hockey game at TD Garden in Boston on February 10, 2014. (Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images)

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The older of the two brothers, Johnny, played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, earning the nickname “Johnny Hockey.”

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