Tears as Columbus Blue Jackets Honor Gaudreau Brothers Ahead of Home Opener
The Columbus Blue Jackets held an emotional tribute to honor Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau at their home opener against the Florida Panthers. The ceremony included a banner being raised to the rafters in Johnny Gaudreau’s memory, with fans and both teams showing their respect through applause and a traditional hockey salute. Johnny Gaudreau’s family, including his wife Meredith and children, were present, and his wife delivered a heartfelt message encouraging everyone to be inspired by Johnny’s life and love for the game.
The event was filled with tributes, including the Blue Jackets and Panthers wearing jerseys with Johnny’s number 13 during warmups, which will be auctioned and raffled off to benefit the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation. Fans in attendance received a “13” patch to wear, symbolizing the lasting impact of the Gaudreau brothers on the hockey community.
The emotional night was a testament to the outpouring of support from the hockey world, with teams and fans across the league showing their solidarity with the Gaudreau family. The Blue Jackets’ coach, Dean Evason, and players like Sean Monahan and Zach Werenski emphasized the importance of embracing the emotions and using them as motivation to honor Johnny’s legacy.
