On Thursday, Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan was named the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, an honor awarded every year to the NHL player who best “exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”

Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan was brought to tears accepting the NHL’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by the wife of his late friend and teammate, Johnny Gaudreau.

Sean Monahan broke down in tears while reflecting on his friendship with the late Johnny Gaudreau Meredith Gaudreau surprised her late husband Johnny's teammate Sean Monahan with the NHL's Masterton Memorial Trophy Meredith said she was "so honored" to tell Monahan he had won the award and praised him for standing by her at "every tribute" to Johnny Monahan broke down in tears talking about what the award means to him since the death of his close friend Meredith Gaudreau shared a beautiful and emotional moment with her late husband Johnny's former teammate and close friend Sean Monahan.