Fans and Columbus Blue Jackets players gathered for an emotional candlelight vigil outside the team's arena Wednesday night to remember Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matthew, who died last week when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey.
The crowd of roughly 1,000 outside Nationwide Arena was encouraged at 7:49 p.m. to light their candles. For the next 13:21 — for Johnny's jersey No. 13 and Matthew's No. 21 — they stood in silent remembrance watching a nearby video screen as a slideshow played of the brothers from childhood, through their teenage years and into college hockey, the pros, marriages, baptisms and lives filled with joy and love.
Flanked by a memorial 20 feet deep and 40 feet wide of jerseys, candles, balloons, stuffed animals, Gatorade bottles and signage, players including captain Boone Jenner, defenseman Erik Gudbranson and forward Cole Sillinger shared memories and inspirations they gained from knowing Johnny Gaudreau.
Gudbranson had known Gaudreau the longest, dating to their time as teammates with the Calgary Flames. He made the crowd chuckle sharing stories of Gaudreau barely making it on time to every team meeting and how he could be out of the locker room in his suit before Gudbranson had gotten out of his skates.
“A little thing I did with John is I’d pick him up and give him a bear hug, and I wouldn’t put him down until he told me he loved me,” Gudbranson told the crowd. “He wouldn’t tell me for a long time. I know up here it was because he enjoyed the hug. We just miss him so much.”
When the timer finished counting up and candle wax and tears commingled on the bricks outside the arena, chants began: “Johnny Hockey, Johnny Hockey, Johnny Hockey.”
At 8:08, the players moved back inside the building as one. A similar vigil took place Calgary, where Johnny Gaudreau played for nearly a decade.
Earlier in the day, teammates mourned the loss of Columbus Blue Jackets player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew at a press conference.
Many of the players who spoke were visibly upset at the loss of their teammate and friend. The players each gave their condolences to the family and recalled memories of Gaudreau.
Blue Jackets Team Captain Boone Jenner said while many will remember Gaudreau for how he played the sport, many will also remember the joy he brought to life off the ice.
"We all deeply miss the way he carried that same joy off the ice, whether it was at the arena or at home with his family. A joy I was so lucky to have witnessed," Jenner said.
Jenner called Gaudreau a close friend he felt he knew for a lifetime.
"His jokes and banter were always a consistent presence. Whether we're in the locker room, on the bus, on a plane or in a hotel room. John was truly one of a kind," Jenner said.
Teammate Erik Gudbranson said Gaudreau was one of the first teammates he made a connection with. He said it was hard not to get to know the Gaudreau family after meeting Johnny.
Gudbranson said he admired Johnny's love for his family, his wife and his children. "You were truly a family man, and you will continue to inspire me to be just like you," Gudbranson said.
Jenner said the team plans to get through this time together as a family. "We will persevere, because I know that's what Johnny would have wanted," Jenner said.
Don Waddell, general manager for the Columbus Blue Jackets, said he was looking forward to being on the same team as Gaudreau before his life was cut short.
Waddell said plans are still being discussed for how the team will honor Gaudreau during the season. He said the team plans on attending funeral services once they are finalized.
"While there's a huge hole in our lineup, there's even a larger one in our hearts," Waddell said.
