Johnny Gaudreau to be honored; Stanley Cup in area

Growing up in South Jersey, Johnny Gaudreau spent countless hours at the Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell.

"It was my second home," Gaudreau, a certified rink rat, said the other day.

Under the guidance of his father, Guy, a Hollydell coach, Gaudreau blossomed into a dominating little hockey player who later excelled at Gloucester Catholic High and at Boston College, where he became known as Johnny Hockey and won the 2014 Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top collegiate player.

Now 24, the 5-foot-9, 157-pound left winger has become a standout with the Calgary Flames. In 2014-15, he was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL's top rookie, and he has been an all-star selection during each of his three full seasons.

On Tuesday, he will be inducted into the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony starting at 6:30 p.m. at Salem Community College's Sol and Jean Davidow Performing Arts Theatre. The event is free and open to the public.

"I've lived in Salem County my whole life, so this is pretty special for me and it's special for my family as well," said Gaudreau, who won the Lady Byng Trophy for his sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct, and outstanding play last season, when he had 61 points (18 goals, 43 assists) in 72 games and was assessed just two minor penalties.

Gaudreau grew up in Pedricktown, though it is sometimes referred to as Carneys Point or Oldmans Township.

"People would try to send me stuff when I was younger and I'd tell them I'm not too sure of my address," he said with a laugh. "They'd say you're 13 years old and you don't know your address!? And I'd tell them, 'Well, we have two different towns in it. We live in Pedricktown, but our mailing address is Carneys Point. It's confusing. When people ask me where I'm from, I say Carneys Point/Pedricktown. I say both of them at the same time.

"Most people have never heard of either town."

Guy Gaudreau still runs things at Hollydell, but he recently resigned as Gloucester Catholic's coach to spend more time watching his sons play. Johnny Gaudreau's brother, Matt, plays left wing for Bridgeport, the New York Islanders' AHL farm team.

Johnny Gaudreau, a fourth-round pick of the Flames in 2011, didn't expect to be one of the NHL's top left wings.

"I'm definitely surprised," he said. "Being a smaller guy, I always heard, 'This guy will never make it, he's too small.' Growing up, I never thought I'd play in the NHL, but as the years went on, I kept improving and I've kind of just rode with it. I've tried to take everything in, whether it was college or the NHL… It's been a whirlwind of a journey, but I've been very fortunate to play with some great players and great teammates and had good coaches."

Gaudreau, who returned last week from a trip to the Riviera Maya in Mexico with his family, hasn't forgotten his roots. He hosted his second annual benefit golf tournament recently and it raised more than $50,000 for scholarship funds that will be awarded to Gloucester Catholic students. Several current and former NHL players were in the tournament, including ex-Flyer John LeClair.

Gaudreau and the Flames will make their only Wells Fargo Center appearance this season when they face the Flyers on Nov. 18.

Stanley Cup in the area. Jim Britt, a 2000 graduate of Holy Ghost Prep, will bring the Stanley Cup to his alma mater Monday. Britt is the Pittsburgh Penguins' director of team operations.

He will be at Holy Ghost with the Cup from around 12:30  to 2:30 p.m.