On Wednesday morning, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced plans to honour Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew. The brothers were tragically killed in an accident last month.
Blue Jackets Announce Preliminary Plans on Wednesday
In lieu of the club’s typical Opening Night activities, we’ll celebrate the memory of the Gaudreau brothers on Tuesday, Oct. 15th.
Recognitions will include helmet stickers, a jersey patch, and more.
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— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) September 18, 2024
Blue Jackets players will wear a special sticker on their helmets starting with their preseason game next Monday. They will wear them for the full season and in any Stanley Cup Playoff games. The sticker is blue with gray trim and features “Gaudreau” written in at the top. Below, two doves will sit between the numbers 13, which Johnny wore throughout his career, and 21, which Matthew wore at Boston College. All lettering and the image of the doves will be in white.
The Blue Jackets play their first preseason home game on September 25th. Prior to the game, a moment of silence will be held for the Gaudreau brothers. In addition, the proceeds from the 50/50 draw that goes from the first home preseason game and concludes during the second intermission of the team’s home opener on October 15th, will be donated to the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation.
When the Jackets being the regular season on October 10th, the team will wear an additional patch on their jerseys. This one will feature Johnny Hockey‘s number 13.
In lieu of the traditional Opening Night activities, the Blue Jackets will celebrate the memory of the Gaudreau brothers when they host the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on October 15th. In addition, all fans in attendance that night will receive a “13” patch like the ones players will be wearing on their jerseys.
More Tributes to Come
This is likely not the only time we will see the Gaudreau brothers honoured. The Calgary Flames will likely have a ceremony prior to a home game this season. Furthermore, the Flames have already honoured Johnny Hockey off the ice. Recently, the Flames announced plans to re-purpose old hockey equipment to donate to local charities. At Boston College, where the Gaudreau brothers played college hockey, memorials have been set up around the hockey arena to honour their memories. We leave you with a quote from one of the great inspirations of our recent generations.
“A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.” – Maya Angelou
Main Photo Credit: Adam Cairns – USA TODAY Network
