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The late Johnny Gaudreau will be honored tonight during the Florida Panthers-Columbus Blue Jackets game at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The Panthers and Blue Jackets will wear #13 Johnny Gaudreau jerseys to pay tribute to the Blue Jackets’ star during warmups.
The touching gesture has moved fans to tears, with many turning to social media to express their feelings. Here’s a look at some of the heartwarming comments fans made when hearing about the news:
“I’m gonna cry…” this fan commented.
“Incredibly powerful,” another fan posted.
“Respect to Florida for being so gracious to the team and fans about this,” a fan opined.
Other fans expressed their support for the decision, voicing their opinions about the pre-game ceremony. Let’s look at what these fans had to say:
“Ritual for the game,” this fan commented on social media.
“This is amazing and I love it!” one fan expressed their support.
“Well done,” another fan Tweeted.
The Tuesday night tilt between the Panthers and Blue Jackets marks the first meeting between the two teams this season. For the Blue Jackets, the home game marks a key opportunity to honor Johnny Gaudreau and the Florida Panthers organization seems to fully support Columbus' decision.
Johnny (31 years old) and his brother Matthew (29) died on Aug. 29. The Gaudreau brothers were riding bicycles in Salem County, New Jersey, and were hit by a car.
Calgary Flames honor Johnny Gaudreau during home opener
The Calgary Flames held an emotionally charged tribute last Saturday night during their home opener. Johnny Gaudreau spent over a decade with the Flames organization, growing from a young prospect into one of the game’s biggest stars.
Flames forward Blake Coleman was quoted by NHL.com, stating:
“When it comes to Johnny, there is no managing (the emotion).”
The comments underscore the love, respect, and appreciation the entire NHL world has for the late star.
Coleman added:
“I’m happy I get to be here and see it and be a part of it.”
Like Coleman, NHLers know one way to honor Gaudreau’s memory: Play the game of hockey. Flames’ defenseman MacKenzie Weegar touched on this sentiment by saying:
"I think the one way to do it is, you know, go out there and play hard for him, honour and celebrate his life.”
Indeed, there is no better way to honor Johnny Hockey than to show the same degree of love and passion for the game as he did.
The Flames battled hard on Saturday night, grabbing a 6-3 decision over the Philadelphia Flyers. For Calgary and the fans, it was a fitting ending to an evening that celebrated the life of a star who left far too soon.
