A home opener in sports is usually filled with energy and anticipation, but on Tuesday night in Columbus, the atmosphere was markedly somber. The Columbus Blue Jackets took to the ice for their first home game of the 2024-25 season, but it was their first without their star player, Johnny Gaudreau, who tragically passed away in August.
Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, were killed in a heartbreaking accident in their hometown of New Jersey. The brothers were struck by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bikes the day before their sister’s wedding, a tragedy that sent shockwaves through the hockey community and beyond.
In the weeks following their deaths, memorials honoring Gaudreau appeared almost immediately in both Columbus and Calgary, where Johnny had spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career. The outpouring of grief has been evident, with moments of silence and tributes seen around the league, but Columbus’ tribute on Tuesday was particularly poignant.
Before the game, the Blue Jackets unveiled a special memorial inside Nationwide Arena featuring Gaudreau’s game-worn equipment, a replica of his locker, and fan memorabilia. The heartfelt tribute served as a place for fans to gather and remember the impact Gaudreau had both on and off the ice.
As the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers took the ice for warmups, both teams wore jerseys with Gaudreau’s iconic No. 13 in his memory. The Blue Jackets also honored their fallen star by hanging his number in the rafters, a permanent reminder of his legacy with the team.
When the game began, Columbus started with just four players on the ice, leaving Gaudreau’s left-wing position empty. Both the Blue Jackets and Panthers let 13 seconds pass in silence before resuming play, a tribute to the number Gaudreau proudly wore throughout his career.
Gaudreau’s father, Guy Gaudreau, spent time with the team during morning skates earlier in the week, a moment that Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason cherished. “It looked like he was just having a blast,” Evason said. “Just having fun skating. I told him, ‘any time you want to come out, you’re more than welcome.’”
The impact of Johnny Gaudreau’s life and career will be felt for years to come. His passing, alongside his brother Matthew, was a devastating loss to the hockey world, but the tributes from fans and players alike have shown just how deeply he was admired.
According to New Jersey State Police, the Gaudreau brothers were cycling when 43-year-old Sean Higgins, driving in the same direction, attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind. Higgins, suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, was charged with two counts of death by auto.
The entire hockey community continues to mourn the loss of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, but the Blue Jackets’ tribute ensured their memory will live on in Columbus, and their legacy will continue to inspire.
RIP JOHNNY HOCKEY! #13