Emotions were packed in the stands at Nationwide Arena on Monday as Guy Gaudreau, father of two sons who were tragically struck and killed by an alleged drunken driver who ran them down near their New Jersey home on Aug. 29 made his visit there to see Columbus Blue Jackets practice since getting word about the accident.
The two brothers were emotionally touched by hockey, a sport which had much fun in their life. Both boys were victims of alleged drunk driving.
Honoring the Gaudreau Brothers
Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason invited Guy to the practice as the team prepared for their home opener against the Florida Panthers. The game scheduled for Tuesday features a special tribute to honor Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's memory.
The Gaudreau brothers have strong ties to the hockey community. Johnny played as a forward for the Blue Jackets. The younger Matthew etched his initials at Boston College.
The Blue Jackets are coming up with several emotional tributes to pay homage to the Gaudreau brothers.
"I've been told that Johnny Gaudreau is a rink rat. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. [Guy] just wanted to be on the ice. He just wanted to be here," Evason said.
"All that family's been through, it's been fantastic and his attitude and the way that he had a such a positive attitude in our room. We were doing practice planning and he's just jumping in on stuff. It was really nice," he added.
Players will sport helmet stickers with the No. 13 emblazoned in honor of Johnny and No. 21 representing Matthew. Moreover, the No. 13 is prominently put at the back of each net in the rink to honor Johnny.
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Guy Gaudreau's Memory Comes Back.
His presence at the practice made many, including his teammate, Sean Monahan, of the Calgary Flames, halt and reflect on what it would be like to actually have him on the ice.
"That guy's special," Monahan said about having Guy on the ice. "He's always in my mind and heart. He was not only a great dad but also a great coach for his kids. He thinks about the game the way Johnny did."
A Fitting Tribute: 'The Donkey Hat'
One of the most endearing tributes to Johnny is a new tradition for the Blue Jackets. If the team wins, the player of the game gets the "donkey hat" he had also become famous for in his disciplinary playful way of demeaning his opponents, according to NHL.com.
Right after Monahan scored one goal and facilitated two assists in his last outing, he proudly sported the donkey hat while answering the press in post-game interviews. "If you knew John, you know he'd call you a donkey. He said it to me a million times," Monahan recalled.
An Emotional Home Opener
No one, of course, could have foreseen how the team or staff would react to the emotional home opener. Mixed feelings were summarized by Sean Monahan: "We'll play for John. He'd be excited for a day like this - new season, new team. We have to be excited for him."
Guy's association with the team and permanent tributes will be kept as remembrances of Johnny and Matthew.
Related Article: Johnny Gaudreau's Widow Reveals Third Pregnancy During His Emotional Funeral Service
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