On an emotional Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets honored Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau before their home opener against the Florida Panthers. Both teams paid heartfelt tributes to the late Blue Jackets star and his brother throughout the evening.
Last August, the Gaudreau brothers died after being struck by a vehicle in New Jersey. They were riding their bikes near their family home when a car veered onto the right shoulder of the road and hit them.
Just two years earlier, Johnny Gaudreau signed a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets, becoming the largest free agent acquisition in franchise history. During his two seasons with the team, Gaudreau quickly became a teammate and fan favorite, recording 33 goals and 101 assists in 161 games.
Following Gaudreau’s passing, the Blue Jackets’ home opener served as a memorial and celebration of life. Both teams went the extra mile to honor the memory of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
Panthers pay tribute to Gaudreau
The tributes began well before the first puck drop. According to Panthers rink reporter Katie Engelsoneach team member brought a Gatorade and purple Skittles in honor of Gaudreau’s favorite snacks. The idea was suggested by Matthew Tkachuk, one of Gaudreau’s best friends at NHL.
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 he released a statement about Gaudreau before the game.
Blue Jackets commemorate Gaudreau brothers pre-game
Before the game, Columbus unveiled his memorial to the Gaudreau brothers inside 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 on display to fans throughout the 2024-25 season.
Players from both teams wear special warm-up jerseys
When the Blue Jackets and Panthers took the ice to warm up, all the players wore Johnny Gaudreau’s number 13. These special jerseys were then sold at auction to raise funds for the Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation.
The jackets pay tribute to Johnny Gaudreau with a moving ceremony
In the final minutes before puck drop, the Blue Jackets honored Johnny with a pre-game video honoring his life on and off the ice. The video traces 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 when his career was over.
“I think at the end of the day I want to be remembered as a guy who wanted to be around the rink, with his friends, with his family,” Gaudreau said. “I could probably go on and on with the list, but being just a hockey player, it’s just a guess.”
Following the video, Gaudreau’s family was invited onto the ice to watch Gaudreau’s number 13 being raised to the rafters. As the banner went up, fans at Nationwide Arena sang a “Johnny Hockey” chant.
As Gaudreau’s family left the ice, a video message from Johnny’s wife, Meredith, played on the Jumbotron. She thanked Columbus fans for all their support and encouraged them to “love the game that John loved.”
On the opening faceoff, the Blue Jackets came out with just four skaters, leaving Gaudreau’s left wing open. Columbus center Sean Monahan, a longtime friend of Gaudreau, got the first field goal and pushed the puck into the vacant slot. The teams let 13 seconds elapse as the crowd chanted “I love you, Johnny.”
