Johnny Gaudreau’s Columbus teammates were given a few options on how to handle their emotions during the Blue Jackets’ home opener.
If you want to cry, cry.
If you want to laugh, laugh.
The only rules: Play the game like “Johnny Hockey” would and with him in mind.
Emotions ran high in Columbus on Tuesday night as the Blue Jackets paid tribute to their star and his late brother Matthew during their home opener against the Florida Panthers. Among the highlights: A banner in Gaudreau’s memory was hoisted to the rafters as fans cheered, both teams tapped their sticks on the ice in the traditional hockey salute, and his family watched with their arms intertwined.
And before the puck dropped, the teams stood still as 13 seconds – Johnny Gaudreau’s number – expired on the clock and with his left wing position vacant, the Blue Jackets sent four skaters onto the ice instead of the usual five. The puck dropped and the Blue Jackets’ Sean Monahan passed it off to Florida’s Sam Bennett.
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Monahan and Bennett were teammates with Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary. It couldn’t have been more appropriate.
‘I don’t want anyone to be sad’ Meredith GaudreauJohnny’s wife said in a recorded message played shortly before the confrontation. “I want all of you to be inspired by the life John lived. That means loving your family first and foremost, and when it’s time to drop the puck, let’s love the game John loved.”
Johnny Gaudreau, the Blue Jackets star who would have been entering his third season with the club and 11th NHL season overall, and his brother Matthew Gaudreau were killed on August 29 when police said they were hit by a suspected drunk driver as they rode along a rural New Jersey road on the eve of their bike ride sister Katie’s wedding.
The brothers were originally from South Jersey and were heavily involved in the local hockey community. Johnny Gaudreau played for the Little Flyers, a youth hockey organization based in Aston, Pennsylvania, starting at the PeeWee level in 2004 and continuing through the 2008–09 season. Matthew Gaudreau played for the Little Flyers in 2007-08 and 08-09.
“It’s something so unprecedented and something that obviously none of us wanted to experience, and none of us ever want to experience,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said Monday as final preparations were made for the Gaudreaus’ home opener celebration. . “But we have to.”
Gaudreau, 31, wore jersey No. 13 for the Blue Jackets. Matthew Gaudreau – who was 29 and played five professional seasons in the American Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and in Sweden – wore jersey No. 21. All 32 NHL teams wear decals on their helmets with 13, 21 and the letter G on them. their helmets until October 24. USA Hockey has a similar tribute for its teams at all levels this year.
On Tuesday the ’13’ tributes were everywhere. Both the Blue Jackets and Panthers took to the ice for warm-ups wearing jerseys with Gaudreau’s name and jersey number 13; those jerseys will be auctioned and raffled to benefit the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation. There is “13” on the ice behind the goals. All fans in attendance received a “13” patch, the patch Blue Jackets players will wear on their jerseys this season.
“It’s an emotional night for the hockey world,” Bennett said. “I’m glad I can be here and honor his legacy in any way I can.”
Jay LaPrete/AP
The Panthers, like the rest of the NHL, are mourning along with the Blue Jackets. Gaudreau was definitely loved by players, whether they were his teammate or not. Florida star Matthew Tkachuk, who missed the game due to illness, knows about Gaudreau’s affinity for purple Gatorade and bags of Skittles. So every Panthers player stepped off the bus Tuesday afternoon in Columbus with Gatorade and Skittles in their hands.
“Johnny was a big part of the hockey community, but to me he was much more than that,” Tkachuk said. “A great friend, teammate and family man. Not a day goes by without me thinking about Johnny and Matthew.”
Johnny Gaudreau – all six feet tall and 165 pounds – was a star in Boston College before reaching the NHL, making his debut in the Calgary finals for the 2013-14 season. His first goal came on his first shot in his first game, and from then on his star only shone brighter.
The player who fished the puck out of the net after Gaudreau’s first goal was Monahan.
“I saw it firsthand. He had an impact on so many people,” Monahan said. “I mean, players who played against him are fans of him and watch him, study his game and try to be like him.”
Monahan probably never aspired to be an ass. In the future, the Blue Jackets will be clamoring to be called one.
Jay LaPrete/AP
Johnny Gaudreau used that term – “ass” – freely and endearingly around friends and teammates. The Blue Jackets have had a celebration for about a decade where the player of the game gets to wear a Civil War-style kepi hat, the recipient selected by the previous player-recipient. The kepi is retired. The player of the game now receives a donkey hat. Monahan was the first to receive it.
“I’m really glad we adjusted it a little bit,” Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. ‘I think it suits us. It was a great idea. And you know, we wish the little guy still called us that. But Monny is certainly the right man to understand that the first time.’
Guy Gaudreau, the late brothers’ father and longtime coach, was on the ice with the Blue Jackets for practice in Columbus on Monday and was back for the morning skate on Tuesday. The tribute is not over yet. They will continue in one form or another for years to come. He recently helped with one Philadelphia Flyers practice.
“There will be some tough moments, no doubt about it,” Gudbranson said. “We still miss him.”
But they will cheer him up forever. As the banner with his name went up, fans sang “Johnny Hockey” while some in his family couldn’t help but smile at the tribute. Afterwards there was a game. It seemed secondary.
“The first part,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said, “is clearly the most important part of the event tonight.”
