NHL latest (Oct. 15)
On Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, it was about so much more than just hockey.
In the Blue Jackets’ first home game since the tragic Aug. 29 deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, the team honoured the two brothers who will be in the hearts of the hockey world all season long.
The tributes started with both the Blue Jackets and visiting Florida Panthers all wearing Johnny Gaudreau jerseys in their pre-game warmup.
In addition to donning Gaudreau jerseys during warm-ups, the Panthers disembarked from their bus at Nationwide Arena holding purple Gatorade and Skittles — two of Gaudreau’s favourite treats.
Many of Gaudreau’s family and friends were in attendance for the game. Before puck drop, the Blue Jackets welcomed Gaudreau’s wife Meredith and their two children, Noa and Johnny Jr., to the ice after an emotional tribute video played on the jumbotron.
With his wife and children on the ice, the Blue Jackets then raised a banner with Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey to the rafters. As Meredith left the ice, chants of “Johnny Hockey” erupted through the arena.
The banner raising was followed by a video message from Meredith in which she encouraged the fans and players not to be sad, but to be inspired by Gaudreau’s tragically short life.
“When it’s time to drop the puck, let’s love the game John loved,” Meredith said.
The emotional night continued right through puck drop, as the Blue Jackets started the game without a left winger in tribute to their former superstar. Sean Monahan, one of Gaudreau’s best friends from their time together with the Calgary Flames, won the draw before the teams paused for 13 seconds.
Monahan would go on to score in the game and paid tribute to his friend by pointing to the Gaudreau banner that was raised before puck drop.
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Johnny and Matthew were killed in August when a suspected drunk driver struck them as they rode their bikes in Oldmans Township, N.J.
Since their death, tributes have poured in from across the league. Many teams honoured the fallen brothers with moments of silence or celebration before pre-season games over the past few weeks. At Calgary’s home opener on Saturday, the Flames showed a four-minute montage of highlights from “Johnny Hockey” while he was wearing the flaming C. League-wide, helmets worn by players will feature a No. 13 and 21 decal — the numbers worn by Johnny and Matthew, respectively.
— With files from the Associated Press
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