On an emotional Tuesday evening at the Nationwide Arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets honored Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau before their home game against the Florida Panthers. Both teams participated in heartfelt tributes to the late Blue Jackets star and his brother throughout the evening.
Already in August the Gaudreau brothers died after being hit by a vehicle in New Jersey. They were cycling near their family home when a car turned onto the right side of the road and hit them.
Just two years ago, Johnny Gaudreau signed a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets, becoming the largest free agent acquisition in franchise history. In his two seasons with the team, Gaudreau quickly became a teammate and fan favorite, scoring 33 goals and 101 assists in 161 games.
After Gaudreau's death, the Blue Jackets' home opener served as a memorial and celebration of life. Both teams went the extra mile to honor the memories of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
Panthers pay respects to Gaudreau
The honors began long before the first puck. According to Katie Engelson, a fieldside reporter for the PanthersEach member of the team brought a purple Gatorade and Skittles in honor of Gaudreau's favorite snacks. The idea was suggested by Matthew Tkachukone of Gaudreau's best friends in the .
Tkachuk and Gaudreau played together in Calgary from 2016 to 2022 and the two American-born stars formed a close bond. Tkachuk did not travel with the Panthers due to illness, but released a statement regarding Gaudreau before the game.
“Blue Jackets remember Gaudreau brothers before game”.
Ahead of the game, Columbus unveiled his monument to the Gaudreau brothers in the arena. The memorial includes replica lockers for Johnny and Matthew, game-worn gear and items from the fan memorial outside the arena. It will be available for fans to see throughout the 2024-25 season.
The players of both teams wear special warm-up jerseys
When the Blue Jackets and Panthers took the ice for warm-ups, each player wore Johnny Gaudreau's No. 13. These special jerseys were then auctioned off to raise money for the Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation.
Jackets honor Johnny Gaudreau with an emotional ceremony
In the final minutes before the puck dropped, the Blue Jackets honored Johnny with a pregame video that honored his life on and off the ice. The video went through Gaudreau's childhood, his love of hockey, his family and his career in Calgary and Columbus. It ended with a quote from Gaudreau about how he wanted to be remembered after his career ended.
“I think when it's all said and done, I want to be remembered as someone who wanted to be near the rink, his friends, his family,” Gaudreau said. “I could probably go on and on with the list, but it’s just a guess that I’m a hockey player.”
Following the video, Gaudreau's family was invited onto the ice to watch as Gaudreau's No. 13 was lifted into the rafters. As the banner went up, fans at Nationwide Arena erupted in chants of “Johnny Hockey.”
As Gaudreau's family left the ice, a video message from Johnny's wife, Meredith, played on the Jumbotron. She thanked the Columbus fan base for all their support and encouraged them to “love the game that John loved.”
On the first puck drop, the Blue Jackets came out with only four skaters, leaving Gaudreau's left wing open. Columbus center Sean Monahan, a longtime friend of Gaudreau, took the opening draw and pushed the puck into the open spot. The teams allowed 13 seconds to pass as the crowd chanted “I love you, Johnny.”