Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner previews 2025-26 season
Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner gives a preview of the upcoming NHL season during the team media day on Sept. 15, 2025.
Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner and his wife, Maggie, welcomed their son, Tommy Pavol Jenner, on September 21.The birth comes nearly a year and a half after the couple experienced the stillbirth of their first son, Dawson.Photos from the birth announcement show the newborn swaddled in a blanket that honors his late brother.Jenner returned to the ice for the Blue Jackets just three days after his son’s birth.
Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner and his wife, Maggie, have welcomed a new addition to their family nearly a year and a half after the couple’s devastating stillbirth of their firstborn son.
Tommy Pavol Jenner was born on Sept. 21 and became what his dad called the “best thing in the world.”
Maggie Jenner announced Tommy’s birth on her Instagram page, posting a carousel of photographs. The carousel also features a video of the couple’s dog, Harley, meeting Tommy as he lies in a crib.
No, Tommy doesn’t have his own pair of skates quite yet, but that will come in a few years, Jenner said.
Tommy’s birth comes about 17 months after the couple announced the loss of their firstborn son, Dawson, who was stillborn on March 31, 2024, about eight and a half months into Maggie’s pregnancy.
Following Dawson’s loss, Jenner spent time away from the Blue Jackets before rejoining the team in mid-April 2024 for the end of the season.
Several of the photos included in Tommy’s birth announcement include him being swaddled in a blanket embroidered with a message honoring Dawson.
Jenner said he and his wife tried to stay positive and excited through her pregnancy but the thoughts of what could happen were in the back of their minds.
“To actually have him here is surreal for both of us, trying to soak in every moment,” Jenner said. “Families don’t always get that. For us not being able to go home with your son, for this one to be able to bring him home is special.”
Jenner said his wife has been a “rock star” through her pregnancy and birth and called the experience of becoming a father surreal. He said Tommy looks more like Maggie in his view, but it depends on who is asked who he looks like at less than two weeks old.
“It’s the greatest blessing I’ve ever experienced,” he said.
Jenner played for the Blue Jackets three days after his son’s arrival on Sept. 24, logging 19:47 of ice time, two shots on goal, a +1 rating and a 100% faceoff win percentage in a 4-1 preseason in over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has not traveled with the team during the preseason.
The Blue Jackets drafted Jenner in 2011 and he has spent his entire career in Columbus. He was named captain in 2021.
This story was updated to add comments from Boone Jenner.
Dispatch reporter Brian Hedger contributed to this story.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@gannett.com or on Bluesky at @bethanybruner.dispatch.com.