The Columbus Blue Jackets honored Johnny Gaudreau before their home opener against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena.
Prior to puck drop a five-minute video was played on the jumbotron that highlighted Gaudreau’s life from when he started playing hockey, to when he met his wife, Meredith, to leaving the Calgary Flames to join the Columbus Blue Jackets. The video was filled with highlights of Gaudreau’s life both on and off the ice.
Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, and their two children, Noa and Johnny, were at center ice while Gaudreau’s parents, Guy and Jane, along with his sisters, Katie and Kristen were on the ice near the Blue Jackets’ bench to watch a No. 13 banner be raised to the rafters as “A Sky Full Of Stars” by Coldplay played.
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Meredith then delivered a message to Blue Jackets fans in a video, thanking them for the love and support since Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed in August when police say an SUV struck them from behind as the driver attempted to pass two other vehicles. The driver is suspected by police of driving under the influence of alcohol.
“I want you all to be inspired by the life that John lived,” Meredith said in the video. “That means love your family first and foremost. But when it’s time to drop the puck, let’s love the game that John loved.”
The Blue Jackets took the opening faceoff with four skaters and left Gaudreau’s position open. Sean Monohan, who signed with Columbus to be reunited with Gaudreau after being teammates in Calgary, took the faceoff and slid the puck over to Panthers forward Sam Bennett — who also played with Gaudreau on the Flames — and let 13 seconds run off the clock.
Gaudreau wore No. 13 while with the Flames and the Blue Jackets.
