Gaudreau household walks out with Blue Jackets forward of Stadium Collection (0:39)
Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of the late Johnny Gaudreau, and her kids lead the Blue Jackets out forward of the NHL Stadium Collection sport vs. the Crimson Wings. (0:39)
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Greg WyshynskiMar 1, 2025, 04:53 PM ET
- Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL author.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings honored the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau throughout their Stadium Collection entrances on Saturday at Ohio State College.
The Blue Jackets walked from a pregame pep rally at St. John Area over to Ohio Stadium carrying what the gamers known as a “signature Johnny match” of an Avalon Surf Store hoodie, black Amiri hats with three stars on them, black sweatpants and black Uggs boots.
“Principally our entire outfit is a tribute to Johnny. One thing that he would put on day-after-day to the rink,” Columbus ahead Mathieu Olivier mentioned.
Columbus coach Dean Evason mentioned his gamers taking the stroll that Buckeyes soccer gamers make on gamedays, from the world to the stadium, was further particular because of the Gaudreau vogue tribute and the presence of their household. Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny’s widow; their kids; and Johnny and Matthew’s mom, Jane, led the Blue Jackets from the world to the stadium.
“To have the presence of Johnny with us in that setting … you wish to cry, you wish to battle, and also you wish to get after it. So yeah, Johnny’s with us right here,” Evason mentioned.
Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, have been killed on Aug. 29, 2024, when police mentioned they have been struck by a suspected drunken driver whereas they have been using bicycles on a rural street on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding ceremony.
“Johnny Hockey,” as he was recognized within the NHL, performed for the Calgary Flames for eight seasons earlier than becoming a member of the Blue Jackets as a free agent in 2022. He was among the best American-born scorers of his era, with 743 factors in 763 profession video games. Matthew Gaudreau, like his brother, performed for Boston School earlier than embarking on a four-season professional hockey profession.
The Crimson Wings arrived on their group bus carrying jerseys that Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau had worn throughout their enjoying careers from the Omaha Lancers and Dubuque Combating Saints of the USHL, Boston School and USA Hockey.
“He not solely meant lots for the Columbus group, for U.S. hockey and for hockey generally, but in addition for our locker room. I believe there are many guys who shared paths with him,” Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider mentioned. “It is slightly factor we may give again and I believe it was a proper resolution.”
Tributes to the Gaudreaus may be discovered all through the Stadium Collection. The Blue Jackets’ skate guards have Johnny’s No. 13 on them. Johnny Gaudreau additionally has a stall in his honor contained in the Ohio State locker room.
“This entire day is one thing the place we’re fascinated about John lots. I imply, he would’ve liked to have been right here,” middle Adam Fantilli mentioned. “It was nice that we have been in a position to stroll in with Meredith, Jane, Johnny and Noa as properly. So it was actually good to stroll in with them and to have the ability to honor him and their household, however dressing like him and them carrying his jersey, simply it is an ideal tribute to him.”
Evason mentioned the Stadium Collection was one other likelihood to honor their recollections.
“Everyone’s touched by Johnny. We have talked concerning the tragedy and the way not solely the hockey world, however everyone on the earth has been touched. To honor him in any manner all of us have is totally implausible,” he mentioned.
