The Columbus Blue Jackets paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau in their first game at Nationwide Arena since his tragic passing nearly a month ago. The emotional evening began with a video tribute to Gaudreau, followed by 13 seconds of silence in honor of his uniform number, No. 13.
Gaudreau and his brother Matthew lost their lives on August 29 in a tragic accident near their childhood home in New Jersey. The brothers were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles, just before their sister Katie's wedding. The driver is facing charges related to the incident.
In a show of solidarity, the Blue Jackets are wearing helmet stickers featuring the names of the Gaudreau brothers and their respective uniform numbers. Johnny's No. 13 and Matthew's No. 21, worn during his time at Boston College, are being honored by the team.
The Columbus players are deeply affected by the loss of Johnny Gaudreau, with forward Sean Kuraly expressing the team's collective grief and the void left by his absence both on and off the ice.
The Blue Jackets will continue to honor Gaudreau by wearing a commemorative patch bearing his No. 13 during the upcoming regular season. The traditional activities planned for the home opener on October 15 will be postponed to dedicate the night to paying tribute to the Gaudreau brothers, with the home opener now scheduled for two nights later.
Despite the challenges posed by the tragic loss, the team is coming together to support one another and move forward. The new general manager and coach are leading the team through this difficult time, emphasizing the close-knit bond among the players.
This is not the first time the Blue Jackets have faced the loss of a teammate, as they tragically lost goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks in July 2021. The team is no stranger to adversity and is drawing strength from their unity as they navigate this challenging period.
In Wednesday night's preseason game against the St. Louis Blues, Denton Mateychuk and Kirill Marchenko scored for Columbus, with Sean Kuraly providing assists on both goals. Kent Johnson sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final seconds of the game.
As the Blue Jackets honor the memory of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, they are finding solace in their shared bond and the support of the hockey community during this difficult time.
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