The emotions for most people started when fans started making their way towards the new memorial set up for Johnny. As fans started walking up to the memorial, which featured his locker stall, jerseys, and lots of gifts left by fans, they noticed Meredith Gaudreau with her kids, and Guy Gaudreau visiting the memorial, taking it in. At one point, Meredith picked up a picture of her husband and showed it to Noa, their daughter. Little Noa kissed the picture as her mom smiled. That's when I knew, it was time for me to slip away into the crowd and make my way upstairs.

Everyone knew going into this pregame ceremony that it was going to be emotional. Almost as soon as the first video started playing, people all around the arena started crying.

But before that, both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers took warmups wearing Johnny Gaudreau #13 jerseys. That's when it hit everyone that this night was real.

After warmups, it seemed that all the fans sat down to prepare themselves for what was about to come. The arena got oddly quiet for a few minutes, which is rare. But on a night like Tuesday, this was to be expected.

The teams came back out, this time wearing their own jerseys. The CBJ lined up on their end of the ice, while the Panthers stood at their end, preparing for the videos.

The following video played, and it wasn't on for 10 seconds before it became too emotional for some people to handle, as they just collapsed into their seats with their hands covering their faces. It was just too much for some.

After the video played, Meredith was joined by her kids as they walked out to the east end of the ice. Sean Monahan, one of Johnny's best friends joined her and held little Johnny. Music started playing as a banner started making its way to the rafters of Nationwide Arena. The crowd cheered loudly and sobbed at the same time. But as Meredith Gaudreau was crying, she was also smiling, because she knew that her husband would always be looking down on his teammates now. As one team official told THN Columbus last night, "We don’t anticipate anyone wearing the number 13 for us again." The official also said that technically, the number 13 is not retired.

After the banner was raised, and teams were skating around getting warmed up again, another video came on, this time it was Johnny's widow Meredith. She had a quick pep talk for the fans in the arena. “I want you all to be inspired by the life that John lived,” Meredith Gaudreau said. “That means love your family first and foremost, and when it's time to drop the puck, let's love the game that John loved," she added.

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That was it, one last cry before the start of the game, or so we thought.

As the two teams came to center ice to take the faceoff, with Monahan lined up to take the draw, everyone noticed that they were missing their left wing. In a spot where Johnny Gaudreau should've been, Monahan won the faceoff and slid the puck to his left, where it sat for 13 seconds. Thirteen seconds ticked off the clock as fans cheered, referees clapped, and players stick-tapped. Seeing the CBJ take the ice in missing man formation hurt. He should've been there to receive that pass from his best friend Sean Monahan.

At 11:22 into the second period, Johnny's friend Sean Monahan would score a goal. As he picked himself up off the ice, he pointed to the newly raised 13 banner as he was mobbed by his teammates. It's like it was destined for Monahan to score on this night. He said after the game, "I felt like Johnny was watching down on us today. I had a feeling I was going to get one. Unfortunately, I did and we lost, which sucks, but I definitely could feel John today."

Sadly, the Jackets couldn't come away with the win against the defending Stanley Cup Champ Florida Panthers, but they sure did put together a rally at the end and had several chances to tie it.

The game ended and people filed out of the arena. Most people didn't seem to care the team lost, as this night was all about Johnny Gaudreau. Sure a win would've been nice, but if we're being honest, I'm not sure one person in that arena thought this team would be able to play a full 60 minutes after going through such an emotional night.

This season, they will look for the strength to play and win games in his memory, and if they can't do that, Johnny Hockey will be calling them all donkeys from heaven.

The number 13 will now look down onto the Nationwide Arena ice forever.

What's Next - Columbus is back home on Thursday to play the Buffalo Sabres.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts on our forum.

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