OHIO CITY, OH — Fans and Columbus Blue Jackets players held a moving lighting vigil outside the arena on Wednesday night to remember Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who died last week when they were hit by a suspected drunk driver while riding bikes in New Jersey, their home state.
At 7:49 p.m., people in the crowd of about 1,000 outside of Nationwide Arena were told to light their candles. For the next 13:21, which was Johnny’s jersey number 13 and Matthew’s number 21, they stood and watched a nearby video screen with a slideshow of pictures of the brothers from when they were kids to when they were teens and into college hockey, the pros, marriages, baptisms, and happy, loving lives.
Players, such as captain Boone Jenner, defenseman Erik Gudbranson, and forward Cole Sillinger, talked about the memories and inspirations they got from knowing Johnny Gaudreau. There was a memorial 20 feet deep and 40 feet wide with jerseys, candles, balloons, stuffed animals, Gatorade bottles, and signs.
Gaudreau and Gudbranson had been friends the longest, since they were both on the Calgary Flames. The stories he told about Gaudreau barely getting to every team meeting on time and how he could leave the locker room in his suit before Gudbranson had taken off his skates made everyone laugh.
“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 said. “He took a long time to tell me.” From up here, I know it was because he liked the hug. We really miss him.”
Before the game, people outside the building started chanting, “Johnny Hockey, Johnny Hockey, Johnny Hockey.” The chanting stopped when the timer stopped.
They went back inside the building together at 8:08. In Calgary, there were plans for a similar gathering.
Early in the day, players and general manager Don Waddell in Columbus tried to figure out what had happened.
Waddell said, “There’s a huge hole in our lineup, but there’s an even bigger one in our hearts.” He also said that there are still questions about how the team will move forward. “Our immediate focus is on supporting the Gaudreau family and supporting each other as we continue to grieve the loss of Johnny and Matthew.”
Waddell said that the team will look to their leaders. Jenner, who has been captain since 2021, said that the Blue Jackets need to keep going and help each other as a team.
“As a team, we’re going to get through this together,” she said. “We’re going to grieve, cry, be vulnerable and support each other every step of the way, but we will persevere because I know that’s what Johnny would’ve wanted.”
Gudbranson said that he has had trouble getting along with many of his friends, but Gaudreau’s unique way of driving him crazy brought them together.
Gudbranson said, “You will continue to make me want to be just like you.”
He turned down more money from the New Jersey Devils to sign a seven-year, $68.25 million deal with the Blue Jackets in 2022.
Zach Werenski, a defenseman, talked about Gaudreau’s choice to move to Columbus and love the city.
Werenski told them, “You made this city so happy and exciting.” “I’ve never quite seen anything like it.”
New Jersey State Police say that around 8 p.m. on Thursday, the Gaudreau brothers were riding their bikes on a road in Oldmans Township when a man driving an SUV in the same direction tried to pass two other cars and hit them from behind. The police said they were dead at the scene.
According to police, the driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was thought to be drunk and was charged with two counts of death by auto, careless driving, having an open container, and drinking in a motor vehicle.
At the end of his speech, Gudbranson sent a word to people who are thinking about driving while drunk.
“If you think about driving after a few beers or a fun night, please, please, please do not,” he said. “Find a way home.”
At the annual NHLPA rookie showcase outside of Washington, D.C., union executive director Marty Walsh said that the terrible events were having an impact on hockey in many ways.
“The deaths of Johnny and his brother are impacting a lot of players in the league as a whole and obviously is impacting their alma mater, Boston College, and the people in Boston,” said Walsh. “It’s beautiful to see the awards. We just need to keep helping the family as much as we can.