"Wear it always": Hockey fans react as Elvis Merzlikins honors Johnny Gaudreau with beautiful little detail in custom goalie mask

The hockey world is still coming to terms with the tragic deaths of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew just over one month ago.

They were struck while cycling by a drunk driver in New Jersey and killed the night before they were both scheduled to participate as groomsmen in their sister's wedding. Their shocking passing resulted in an outpouring of grief from around the NHL as well as other major sports leagues in North America and abroad.

But in the meantime, the Blue Jackets still have a season to play regardless of how difficult it will be in the wake of the tragedy. The team will wear special jersey patches honoring both brothers, while every NHL team will have special decals affixed to their helmets.

Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins also commemorated the memory of his late teammate on his new mask artwork for this season, with Gaudreau's jersey No. 13 on the chin of the mask.

And immediately, the reactions from fans who were touched by the tribute to his fallen teammate began pouring in.

"Wear it always as you do your grief. There is no limit to either," wrote @thetanglingpen.

"Losing multiple teammates the way Elvis and multiple Jackets have is unfathomable," wrote @shootdarockyt.

"Gotta feel for this guy, I wish him the best," wrote @Snapback46.

"We are all rooting for the Blue Jackets this season!" exclaimed @2MINIHULK.

"Brickwall szn incoming," declared @GUCCIBELLUM.

"Everybody liked that!" wrote @cczar93.

Elvis Merzlikins has already dealt with losing a teammate in the past

Merzlikins has already dealt with the tragic death of a teammate once during his NHL career. During a July 4 party at the Michigan home of former goaltending coach Manny Legace, fellow Latvian goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks lost his life in a freak fireworks accident.

According to Merzlikins, Kivlenieks died saving his life as well as the lives of his wife and unborn child:

"He saved not just many lives; but when it happened, I was standing 20-30 feet in back of him, and I was hugging my wife. he saved my son, he saved my wife and he saved me," said Merzlikins.

"He died as a hero. And that's not me saying it, that was the doctor saying it. I just want to let you know he was a hero," he continued.

Merzlikins included a special tribute to his fallen teammate on his mask during the 2021-22 season, something he's continuing this season in honor of Gaudreau.