COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Expect a moment of silence Wednesday night before the first pre-season home game for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
This comes after the pre-season was overshadowed by the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were killed by a suspected drunk driver earlier this month.
Johnny Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” was a star player for the Blue Jackets. The players will be wearing stickers on their helmets with Johnny’s number 13 and Matthew’s number 21 from Boston College.
Additionally, CBJ jerseys will feature a patch with the number 13 throughout the season.
The 50-50 raffle from the pre-season games will benefit the Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation. Opening night, scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, will look different this season. The Blue Jackets will push their usual opening night festivities to the following game and instead hold a special ceremony and activities to remember the Gaudreau brothers.
Fans in attendance will receive a number 13 patch like the ones on player jerseys.
Teams around the league are also holding moments of silence and playing video tributes as they begin their pre-seasons. The Philadelphia Flyers even had the Gaudreaus’ father on the ice at practices this week. Flyers coach John Tortorella, a former Blue Jackets coach, said he hoped it would be good for his players and for Guy Gaudreau.
The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday night at Nationwide Arena.