On a poignant Tuesday evening at Nationwide Arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets paid tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau before their home-opener against the Florida Panthers. Both teams joined in heartfelt commemorations of the late Blue Jackets star and his brother throughout the night.
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau tragically passed away in August after a car struck them while they were riding bicycles near their family home in New Jersey. Two years prior, Johnny Gaudreau had signed a significant seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets, becoming the team’s most prominent free agent signing in history. During his two seasons with the Blue Jackets, Gaudreau endeared himself to teammates and fans alike, recording 33 goals and 101 assists in 161 games.
In the aftermath of Gaudreau’s untimely death, the Blue Jackets’ home-opener became a remembrance and celebration of life. Both teams went above and beyond to honor the legacies of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
The tributes began well before the game commenced. Each member of the Panthers brought purple Gatorade and Skittles, Johnny’s favorite snacks, as a gesture of respect. The idea was put forth by Matthew Tkachuk, one of Gaudreau’s close friends in the NHL. Tkachuk and Gaudreau had played together in Calgary and shared a strong bond. Although Tkachuk couldn’t be present at the game due to illness, he released a heartfelt statement about Gaudreau.
Leading up to the game, Columbus revealed a memorial to the Gaudreau brothers inside the arena. The memorial featured replica lockers for Johnny and Matthew, game-worn equipment, and items from the fan memorial outside the arena. This memorial will remain on display for fans to visit throughout the entire 2024-25 season.
During warm-ups, players from both teams wore special jerseys bearing Johnny Gaudreau’s No. 13. These unique jerseys were later auctioned off to raise funds for the Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation.
Just before the puck dropped, the Blue Jackets paid tribute to Johnny with a touching video showcasing his life both on and off the ice. The video highlighted Gaudreau’s childhood, passion for hockey, family, and career in Calgary and Columbus. It concluded with a quote from Gaudreau expressing his desire to be remembered as someone who cherished his time with loved ones and the game of hockey.
Following the video, Gaudreau’s family was invited onto the ice to witness the raising of Gaudreau’s No. 13 to the rafters. As the banner ascended, fans in Nationwide Arena erupted into a chant of “Johnny Hockey.”
As Gaudreau’s family left the ice, a video message from Johnny’s wife, Meredith, played on the Jumbotron. She expressed gratitude to the Columbus fan base for their support and encouraged them to continue embracing the game that Johnny held dear.
During the opening puck drop, the Blue Jackets took the ice with only four skaters, leaving Gaudreau’s left wing vacant. Columbus center Sean Monahan, a longtime friend of Gaudreau’s, took the opening draw and nudged the puck towards the empty spot. The teams allowed 13 seconds to run off the clock while the crowd echoed “Love you, Johnny” in unison.
