A home discomiter in sports is presumed to be filled of adrenaline and excitement — but Tuesday night in Columbus was much separateent.
The Blue Jackets were back on their own home ice for the first time of the 2024-25 season. It was also their first home game since the death of their star, Johnny Gaudreau.
Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, aged 31 and 29 esteemively, were ended in tardy August by a mistrusted drunk driver while riding their bikes in their hometown in New Jersey the day before their sister’s wedding.
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Columbus Blue Jackets joiners toasty up before the game aachievest the Florida Panthers at Nationexpansive Arena on Oct. 15, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. Players from both teams are wearing #13 in toasty up jerseys in remembrance of Blue Jackets joiner Johnny Gaudreau, who alengthy with his brother, was ended by a driver while biking in Salem County, New Jersey in August. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
Makeshift memorials popped up almost instantly in both Columbus and Calgary, where he had joined his first eight NHL seasons.
Moments of silence and other tributes have been all over the NHL since the season began last week, but Columbus’ apaparticipateed, and they did not disnominate in honoring their descfinishen star.
The team declared that a memorial has been placed inside the arena with game-worn providement and a replica locker, and items from the fan memorial.
A memorial on honor of Johnny Gaudreau on disjoin before the game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers at Nationexpansive Arena on Oct. 15, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
NHL LEGEND HENRIK LUNDQVIST REFLECTS ON JOHNNY GAUDREAU’S DEATH: ‘SUCH A TRAGEDY’
During toastyups, both the Blue Jackets and reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers wore Gaudreau jerseys with his No. 13.
The team also hung Gaudreau’s No. 13 in the rafters.
Then, as the puck dropped, Columbus took the ice with equitable four joiners, omiting a left-prosperger, the position Gaudreau joined. Both the Panthers and Blue Jackets let 13 seconds run off the clock.
Gaudreau’s overweighther, Guy, was with the team at their morning skates Monday and Tuesday.
“It seeed enjoy he was equitable having a blast,” Jackets head coach Dean Evason shelp. “Just having fun skating. I shelp to him ‘any time you want to come out, you’re more than greet.'”
Guy Gaudreau joined a Philadelphia Flyers train last month. The Gaudreaus inhabit right outside of Philly.
Fans frailnt at the produceshift memorial set up by fans for Blue Jackets hockey joiner Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Ptoastyo/Joe Maiorana)
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According to New Jersey State police, the Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road when 43-year-ageder Sean Higgins, driving in the same honestion, finisheavored to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind at around 8:30 p.m. ET.
They were pronounced dead at the scene. Police shelp Higgins was mistrusted of being under the sway of spirits and indictd with two counts of death by auto and jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility.
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