The Columbus Blue Jackets are set to honor Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau with significant tributes throughout the 2024-25 season after the tragic loss of the two brothers last month in a bicycle accident. Their memories will be kept alive through a series of heartfelt gestures starting from the preseason.
Tribute Initiations
To begin this tribute, the Blue Jackets will don special helmet stickers starting from their first preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres on September 23. These stickers, designed with deep thought and emotion, will be blue with gray trim. They will feature "GAUDREAU" encasing two doves situated between the numbers 13 and 21. These numbers hold significant meaning; Johnny Gaudreau sported number 13 during his illustrious NHL career, and Matthew Gaudreau wore number 21 during his tenure at Boston College.
The tributes don't end there. Throughout the entire season, Columbus players will proudly wear these special helmet stickers, ensuring that the memory of Johnny and Matthew remains with them on every game day.
Moments of Silence and Charity Initiatives
Before their first home preseason game against the St. Louis Blues on September 25, the Blue Jackets will observe a moment of silence to honor Johnny and Matthew. This solemn moment will provide an opportunity for players and fans alike to reflect on the lives and memories of the Gaudreau brothers.
Additionally, the Blue Jackets have announced a unique 50/50 raffle during all four of their home preseason games. Proceeds from these raffles will be donated to the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, further extending the impact of the brothers' legacy and supporting causes that were close to their hearts.
Regular Season Homage
As the regular season approaches, the Blue Jackets have planned continuous tributes. The first regular season game will be against the Minnesota Wild on October 10. Throughout this entire season, the team’s jerseys will bear a special patch with Johnny's number 13, a subtle yet powerful reminder of his influence and presence within the team. Moreover, during the Blue Jackets' home opener against the Florida Panthers on October 15, every fan in attendance will receive a replica of the No. 13 patch, ensuring that the fans too can take part in this commemoration.
Tragic Loss and Legal Proceedings
The darkness cast by the accident in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, where Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were tragically struck by a drunk driver while riding bicycles, still looms large. The driver has been arrested and charged with two counts of death by auto, a somber reminder of the underlying circumstances of this tribute season.
These gestures by the Columbus Blue Jackets are more than just ritualistic commemorations; they are heartfelt acknowledgments of lost lives that touched many within and beyond the hockey community. Through these various tributes, the memories of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau will be interwoven into the very fabric of the Blue Jackets' 2024-25 season, serving to remind all of the fragility of life and the everlasting bonds of love and memory.