Columbus Blue Jackets announce plans to memorialize Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau
The Columbus Blue Jackets will look a bit different this year as the team continues to grapple with the sudden deaths of star forward Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew Gaudreau, 29, in late August.
Both were bicycling in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, when they were struck and killed by a man prosecutors subsequently charged with drunk driving.
As the team gets ready for training camp, the organization shared some of its plans to remember the Gaudreau brothers.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, Blue Jackets players will wear helmet stickers that feature the brothers' last name, Johnny's No. 13, Matthew's No. 21 and doves. Once the regular season starts on Oct. 10, players will also don patches with the No. 13 on them, according to a Blue Jackets press release.
Every fan attending the team's regular season home opener against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 15 will receive their own No. 13 patch. The home opener will be dedicated to remembering the Gaudreau brothers, so the normal opening night festivities such as the players' blue carpet arrivals will occur before Columbus' next home game on Oct. 17.
A moment of silence will be held for the brothers at the team's first home preseason game against the St. Louis Blues on Sept. 25. Also, the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation's 50/50 raffle will run through every preseason game until the second intermission of the team's home opener. Proceeds from the raffle will go to the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation.
The team plans to hang Johnny Gaudreau's jersey in the locker room every game, including road games, general manager Don Waddell said Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Johnny Gaudreau remembered: Columbus Blue Jackets share plans for season
