The Columbus Blue Jackets held an emotional tribute to Johnny Gaudreau before their preseason game against the St. Louis Blues, marking the team's first home game since his death nearly a month ago.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An emotional video tribute to Johnny Gaudreau and 13 seconds of silence — for his uniform number — opened the Columbus Blue Jackets ' first game at Nationwide Arena since the star player's death nearly a month ago.
Gaudreau and brother Matthew were killed Aug. 29 near their boyhood home in New Jersey when police said they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding bicycles on the eve of sister Katie’s wedding. The driver who police say struck them is charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.
“I think you put yourself in some of these situations where you'd have John around,” Columbus forward Sean Kuraly said. “Thinking about him all day, obviously. Drive to the rink and a lot of times I'd pick him up on the way. So he's not there for that. I spent a lot of the day thinking about John. When he's not there with us, it's a tough day.”
Traditional activities for the home opener Oct. 15 will be postponed so the night can be dedicated to paying tribute to the Gaudreau brothers. The home opener will be celebrated two nights later instead.
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