In memory of the passing of the Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, the NHL announced that all teams will wear special helmet decals to start the 2024-25 NHL regular season. The decals will be worn by all players in all games through October 24, when the Los Angeles Kings host the San Jose Sharks in the final home opener of the season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets — Johnny Gaudreau’s last NHL team — previously announced they’ll wear their own helmet decal for the brothers throughout the regular season.
Here’s a look at the decal the Blue Jackets have announced they’ll be wearing:
The decal which will be worn by the remaining NHL franchises features a “G” with Nos. 13 and 21 flanking it on either side. Johnny wore the former during his 11 years in the NHL and Matthew donned the latter with Boston College.
Many tributes have already taken place for Johnny and Matthew over the past month. Several NHL teams have honored them with a 13-second moment of silence during the preseason, and fans paid their respects with candlelight vigils in Calgary and Columbus, the two cities where Johnny spent his professional career.
The Blue Jackets are keeping Johnny’s locker-room stall in place all season and will hang his jersey in it both at home and on the road. Columbus, in addition to wearing the blue memorial helmet decal throughout the season, as well as a No. 13 patch on their jerseys.
[H/T to Terry Gaston for pointing me towards this story.]
Hey Phil, glad that I was able to help out!
UW Nation, when I sent the NHL’s release story link on the Gaudreau memorial decal to Phil, I shared with him that we should also take into consideration (thoughts and prayers) the family of accused drunken driver Seth Higgins, especially for his children. I can’t imagine the extra weight of grief that his family has been dealt; I hope and pray that his kids are being more supported than ridiculed.
A great tribute to the Gaudreau brothers through all the home openers.
lol no.
With so many memorial patches over years the years, I feel that most have slipped in to obscurity and possibly forgotten.
I am on for a semi-permanent “black band” or more subtle memorial for all those before and after.
You’re inviting a slippery slope.
Who is worthy of a permanent memorial?
How long is someone memorialized if not forever?
Who merits any tribute at all?
What if a player played for many teams; who wears the memorial? Do teams get different memorials based on how long someone played for them?
Do you adjust the memorial if someone else dies, and if so, how much? Or is every team just wearing a black stripe? Do older teams get bigger memorials than expansion teams?
I should have been clearer.
I propose a black armband or a section of the field (like a Ring of honor).
And who is worthy? You’re right. Only worthy people should be remembered.
Anyways, how soon before Pete Rose memorials pop up.