Get to Know the Other Johnny...Before He Blows Up

"Johnny Hockey" has lived up to his dazzling nickname made by popular
by his football counterpart, Johnny Manziel

No not Johnny Football, I'm talking about Johnny Hockey – Sir Johnny Gaudreau. The 21 year-old has taken the National Hockey League by storm this year scoring 64 pts (24g, 40a) in 80 games, appearing in the All-Star game (where he tallied 2 assists), and willing his Flames in an upset series win over the Canucks in 6 games in the first round of the playoffs. Gaudreau, originally from New Jersey, attended Boston College where he was a fan-favorite from the get go making incredible highlight-worthy plays which were all the more remarkable considering his size. He's listed at 5'9, 150 on the Flames website (many people don't even believe he's even that tall) so you can imagine his size as a freshman at BC. But size wasn't, and never has been, a problem for Johnny Hockey as he had a brilliant freshman campaign scoring 44 pts in 44 games, being named the Hockey East Tournament, and Beanpot, MVP, and most significantly, winning a National Championship. He was drafted in the 4th round, 101st overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2011 draft - falling back due to questions about whether his size would fare in the NHL. As a sophomore he scored 51 pts in just 35 games and was a Hobey Baker finalist. His junior year he scored 80 pts in 40 games and won the prestigious Hobey Baker award and after the season decided to join the Flames rather than returning for his senior campaign (what else can you accomplish?). He appeared in just 1 game for the Flames last year after joining them after his college season and, of course, scored a goal in that lone game, immediately proving that Johnny Hockey was soon to be a household NHL name. He is of American descent and one day I’m sure we’ll see him on the U.S. National Team in the Olympics to add to his already stacked résumé  This dude’s hockey résumé at his age is absurd and I think he’s about to take the league by storm, Gretzky style…After a marvelous season this year and a recent series win over Vancouver in which Johnny scored 6 pts in 6 games, the Flames (who are the equivalent of a #7 seed in the west) will face the Anaheim Ducks who look like the best team in the conference at the moment, and maybe the NHL. You better believe that the Flames and their fans are pumped up for this series and I expect an absolute showing from the man they call Johnny Hockey – this kid is the real deal ladies and gents. I'll even go as far as to say this: FLAMES IN 7 BABY! (I’M ON THE BANDWAGON)