Embarrassed Flames trio apologizes
Gaudreau, Monahan, Bouma late for practice Monday, banished to press box Tuesday
CALGARY — It wouldn’t have been a total shock if Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Lance Bouma showed up Wednesday at the Saddledome in full gear, skates and all.
And not because their dads were in town, ready to depart on the Calgary Flames’ annual fathers’ trip.
Because the hat trick of forwards — an all-star left winger, an alternate captain and a fearless shotblocker — certainly wouldn’t want to risk another late arrival after being benched for Tuesday’s 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs as punishment for their tardiness the previous morning.
“The other day, we made a mistake, and that’s the first and last time that’s going to happen,” said the 21-yearold Monahan, the youngest of the three but also the only offender with an ‘A’ stitched to his sweater.
“Obviously, we’d like to apologize to the fans especially, and the teammates and organization. We’re going to get back on track and be professionals and do everything the right way from now on.”
Moments later, the 22-year-old Gaudreau took his turn in front of the cameras and followed suit.
“I think all three of us are really upset with ourselves,” Gaudreau said. “We want to apologize to the organization, the coaches, our team especially and the city of Calgary and the fans. They come to watch us play every night and for us not to show up like that and miss a game like that, it’s not professional on our part.”
The Flames made a loud statement with Tuesday’s press-box assignments, proving no individual — not their leading point-producer (Gaudreau), not their firstline centre (Monahan) and not one of their key penalty-killers (Bouma) — is immune from punishment for breaking team rules.
In their first public comments since the benching, it was obvious all three were embarrassed that their late arrival at Monday’s practice had become front page news.
“It’s something that I’m not proud of. I’m disappointed in myself,” Bouma said. “We made the mistake and we have to live with the consequences of it.”
The tardy trio apologized to teammates in a closed-door meeting, but with their fathers in tow for a twogame road trip that starts Thursday in San Jose, they might still have some explaining to do to Bernie Bouma, Guy Gaudreau and John Monahan about how Super Bowl Sunday turned into Missed-Alarm Monday and Take-A-Seat Tuesday.
Flames head coach Bob Hartley, though, insisted he’s done talking about the disciplinary measure.
“It’s already behind us. They didn’t rob any banks,” Hartley said after practice Wednesday. “It’s business as usual.” Business as usual means that all three forwards will be available for Thursday’s road clash with the Sharks, although there were indications the 25-year-old Bouma might remain an odd-man out.
Gaudreau and Monahan were reunited with Jiri Hudler on the top line while Bouma and Joe Colborne skated as the spare wingers Wednesday.
The Flames, who will also face the Arizona Coyotes on their twogames-in-two-nights getaway, are eight points out in the NHL’s Pacific Division and seven points back of the final wild-card spot.
“We’ve got a big road trip here and this is something that we have to just put behind us,” Gaudreau said.
“We have to make sure it doesn’t happen again and worry about hockey now, focus on hockey.
“I think the best apology for us three is come out against San Jose and have our best game of the season and help this team win and help this team move up in the standings.
“I think that we had a pretty sincere apology, but I think the best apology would be helping this team win as much as possible and playing our best hockey here for the rest of the season.”
“I think the best apology … is come out against San Jose and have our best game of the season … ”
— Johnny Gaudreau