Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings Pay Heartfelt Tribute to the Gaudreau Brothers at Ohio Stadium
In a touching display of camaraderie and remembrance, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings came together to honor the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau during their Stadium Series entrances on Saturday at Ohio State University. The event was not just a game but a heartfelt tribute to two beloved figures in the hockey community.
The Blue Jackets made their entrance in a manner that was both unique and deeply personal. They walked from a pregame pep rally at St. John Arena over to Ohio Stadium, donning what the players affectionately referred to as a “signature Johnny fit.” This ensemble included an Avalon (NJ) Surf Shop hoodie, black AMIRI hats with three stars on them, black sweatpants, and black Uggs boots. It was a look that Johnny Gaudreau himself would have worn to the rink, a fitting homage to his everyday style.
Columbus forward Mathieu Olivier explained, “Basically our whole outfit is a tribute to Johnny. Something that he would wear every day to the rink.” The sentiment was echoed by Columbus coach Dean Evason, who noted the significance of the walk, which mirrored the path taken by Buckeyes football players on gamedays. The presence of the Gaudreau family, including Johnny’s widow Meredith, their children, and Johnny and Matthew’s mother Jane, made the moment even more poignant.
“To have the presence of Johnny with us in that setting … you want to cry, you want to fight, and you want to get after it. So yeah, Johnny’s with us here,” Evason said, capturing the emotional weight of the occasion.
The tragic loss of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau on Aug. 29, 2024, when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles, was a devastating blow to the hockey world. Johnny, known as “Johnny Hockey,” was a standout player for the Calgary Flames for eight seasons before joining the Blue Jackets as a free agent in 2022. His impressive career included 743 points in 763 games, marking him as one of the best American-born scorers of his generation. Matthew Gaudreau, like his brother, played for Boston College and had a four-season pro hockey career.
The Detroit Red Wings also paid their respects by arriving on their team bus wearing jerseys that Johnny and Matthew had worn during their playing careers, including those from the Omaha Lancers and Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, Boston College, and USA Hockey. Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider expressed the team’s sentiments, saying, “He not only meant a lot for the Columbus organization, for U.S. hockey and for hockey in general, but also for our locker room. I think there are plenty of guys who shared paths with him. It’s a little thing we can give back and I think it was a right decision.”
The Gaudreaus’ influence was felt throughout the Stadium Series. The Blue Jackets’ skate guards bore Johnny’s No. 13, and a stall in his honor was set up inside the Ohio State locker room. Center Adam Fantilli reflected on the day’s significance, saying, “This whole day is something where we’re thinking about John a lot. I mean, he would’ve loved to have been here. It was great that we were able to walk in with Meredith, Jane, Johnny and Noa as well. So it was really good to walk in with them and to be able to honor him and their family, but dressing like him and them wearing his jersey, just it’s a great tribute to him.”
Coach Evason summed up the event’s importance, stating, “Everybody’s touched by Johnny. We’ve talked about the tragedy and how not only the hockey world, but everybody in the world has been touched. To honor him in any way we all have is absolutely fantastic.”
- The Blue Jackets wore a “signature Johnny fit” as a tribute.
- The Red Wings wore jerseys from the Gaudreaus’ playing careers.
- Johnny Gaudreau was a standout player with 743 points in 763 games.
- The Gaudreaus’ presence was felt throughout the Stadium Series.
Originally Written by: Greg Wyshynski
