Blue Jackets honor Johnny Gaudreau before their first home game since his death
An emotional video tribute to Johnny Gaudreau and 13 seconds of silence — for his uniform number — opened the Columbus Blue Jackets’ first game at Nationwide Arena since the star player’s death nearly a month ago
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An emotional video tribute to Johnny Gaudreau and 13 seconds of silence — for his uniform number — opened the Columbus Blue Jackets' first game at Nationwide Arena since the star player's death nearly a month ago.
The tributes came just prior to the Blue Jackets' 3-0 preseason victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.
Gaudreau and brother Matthew were killed Aug. 29 near their boyhood home in New Jersey when police said they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding bicycles on the eve of sister Katie’s wedding. The driver who police say struck them is charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Starting with preseason games, the Blue Jackets are wearing helmet stickers with “Gaudreau” printed between the images of two doves and the uniform numbers of the brothers, No. 13 for Johnny, No. 21 for Matthew, the number he wore as a player for Boston College.
