Photo credit: globalnews.ca
Columbus Blue Jackets Honor Johnny Gaudreau in Emotional Tribute
In a moving tribute, the Columbus Blue Jackets commemorated Johnny Gaudreau with a heartfelt video presentation and a moment of silence lasting 13 seconds, symbolizing his jersey number. This poignant remembrance took place before the team’s first game at Nationwide Arena since the tragic loss of the star player nearly a month prior.
The tribute occurred just before the Blue Jackets secured a 3-0 preseason victory against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.
Gaudreau and his brother Matthew tragically lost their lives on August 29 when they were reportedly struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles near their childhood home in New Jersey, just a day before their sister Katie’s wedding. The individual charged in connection with the incident faces two counts of death by auto, as well as charges for reckless driving, possession of an open container, and consuming alcohol while operating a vehicle.
As part of their efforts to honor the Gaudreau brothers, the Blue Jackets are donning helmet stickers featuring the name “Gaudreau” surrounded by two dove symbols and the respective uniform numbers of the brothers: No. 13 for Johnny and No. 21 for Matthew, which he wore during his time at Boston College.
Columbus forward Sean Kuraly reflected on the absence of Gaudreau, expressing how reminders of the star player permeated his thoughts throughout the day. “Thinking about him all day, obviously. Drive to the rink and a lot of times I’d pick him up on the way. So he’s not there for that,” Kuraly said. “When he’s not there with us, it’s a tough day.”
Permanent Tributes and Adjusted Home Opener Plans
As a further tribute, Columbus players will wear a commemorative patch with Gaudreau’s No. 13 during the first game of the regular season. Additionally, traditional festivities for the home opener, scheduled for October 15, have been postponed to allow for a dedicated celebration honoring the Gaudreau brothers, which will take place two nights later.
The Blue Jackets, who struggled last season, are under new management with a fresh coach, yet they face the challenge of moving forward while coping with the significant loss of the 31-year-old Gaudreau, often referred to as “Johnny Hockey.”
“The guys are close,” remarked new coach Dean Evason, highlighting the strong bond among team members. “And that doesn’t just mean the guys that have been here in Columbus. It’s everyone here in this camp. We’ve seen a real close-knit group.”
This marks the second training camp in recent years overshadowed by the loss of a teammate. Goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks tragically passed away in July 2021 due to chest trauma caused by an errant fireworks mortar during a wedding celebration.
In the preseason game, Denton Mateychuk and Kirill Marchenko both contributed to the scoreboard for Columbus, with Kuraly assisting on both goals. The night concluded with Kent Johnson securing an empty-net goal with just 43 seconds remaining.
Source
globalnews.ca