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Greg Wyshynski
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings honored the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau during their Stadium Series entrances on Saturday at Ohio State University.
The Blue Jackets walked from a pregame pep rally at St. John Arena over to Ohio Stadium wearing what the players called a “signature Johnny fit” of an Avalon (NJ) Surf Shop hoodie, black AMIRI hats with three stars on them, black sweatpants and black Uggs boots.
“Basically our whole outfit is a tribute to Johnny. Something that he would wear every day to the rink,” Columbus forward Mathieu Olivier said.
Columbus coach Dean Evason said his players taking the walk that Buckeyes football players make on gamedays, from the arena to the stadium, was extra special thanks to the Gaudreau fashion tribute and the presence of their family. Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny’s widow, their children and Johnny and Matthew’s mother Jane led the Blue Jackets from the arena to the stadium.
“To have the presence of Johnny with us in that setting … you want to cry, you want to fight, and you want to get after it. So yeah, Johnny’s with us here,” Evason said.
Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed on Aug. 29, 2024, when police said they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding bicycles on a rural road on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding.
“Johnny Hockey,” as he was known in the NHL, played for the Calgary Flames for eight seasons before joining the Blue Jackets as a free agent in 2022. He was one of the best American-born scorers of his generation, with 743 points in 763 career games. Matthew Gaudreau, like his brother, played for Boston College before embarking on a four-season pro hockey career.
The Red Wings arrived on their team bus wearing jerseys that Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau had worn during their playing careers from the Omaha Lancers and Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, Boston College and USA Hockey.
“He not only meant a lot for the Columbus organization, for U.S. hockey and for hockey in general, but also for our locker room. I think there are plenty of guys who shared paths with him,” Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider said. “It’s a little thing we can give back and I think it was a right decision.”
The Gaudreaus’ presence can be found throughout the Stadium Series. The Blue Jackets’ skate guards have Johnny’s No. 13 on them. Johnny Gaudreau also has a stall in his honor inside the Ohio State locker room.
“This whole day is something where we’re thinking about John a lot. I mean, he would’ve loved to have been here,” center Adam Fantilli said. “It was great that we were able to walk in with Meredith, Jane, Johnny and Noa as well. So it was really good to walk in with them and to be able to honor him and their family, but dressing like him and them wearing his jersey, just it’s a great tribute to him.”
Evason said the Stadium Series was another chance to honor their memories.
“Everybody’s touched by Johnny. We’ve talked about the tragedy and how not only the hockey world, but everybody in the world has been touched. To honor him in any way we all have is absolutely fantastic,” he said.
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