As you’re all most likely aware, brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were both killed while riding bicycles when a suspected drunk driver struck them the night of August 29th. New Jersey State police said the driver was traveling in the same direction as them in an SUV when he attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind, killing both.
Johnny Gaudreau was a player on the Columbus Blue Jackets, having begun his NHL career as a fourth-round draft pick by the Calgary Flames in 2011 and made his debut with the Flames in April 2014. He played nine seasons with the Flames before joining the Blue Jackets as a free agent in July of 2022. Gaudreau played in 161 games for the Jackets.
Johnny’s brother Matthew was also a hockey player, though not quite as accomplished as Johnny. He spent the majority of his professional career with the Worcester Railers in the ECHL and played four seasons at Boston College from 2013-14 to 2016-17.
The Columbus Blue Jackets plan to honor both brothers throughout the season. The team has announced preliminary plans to honor and remember the brothers. According to the team,
Beginning with the club’s first preseason game at the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, September 23 through the duration of the 2024-25 season, Blue Jackets players will wear a special sticker on their helmets. The sticker is blue with gray trim and features GAUDREAU, two doves between the numbers 13, which Johnny wore throughout his career, and 21, which Matthew wore at Boston College, in white.
Here’s a look at the helmet decal, which was just unveiled.
In addition, the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation will hold a 50/50 raffle thoroughout the preseason, with the proceeds from the cumulative total raised during that time going to the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation.
Further, while the team has not released an image or mockup, the Blue Jackets will wear a patch featuring Gaudreau’s number 13 on their jerseys. The patch will debut during the club’s first regular season game at the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, October 10, and the club will wear the memorial patch throughout the season.
The Blue Jackets added,
In lieu of the club’s typical Opening Night activities, the Blue Jackets will celebrate the memory of the Gaudreau brothers when they host the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday, October 15 at 7 p.m. ET. All fans in attendance that night will receive a “13” patch like the ones players will be wearing on their jerseys.
Traditional Opening Night festivities, including the Opening Night Plaza Party, presented by Nationwide, player blue carpet arrivals, etc. will take place prior to the Thursday, October 17 home game against the Sabres. Additional details of activities planned for both games will be announced at a later date.
As soon as any additional information becomes available, I will have more on it.
The team will also maintain his locker room stall
This was tragic. Seems kind of weird to honor the brother on one decal but not on the patch itself. Guess this is what happens when trying to honor someone who was not a member of your team?
Has Calgary announced anything similar?
Will the Blue Jackets retire their #13? Or will the whole league?
Just an assumption but I would think the Blue Jackets will. I don’t think it would be retired league wide, tragic as it was.