COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets started a new tradition to honor Johnny Gaudreau.
For years, a replica Civil War "kepi" hat would be awarded by the team to the player of the game after a Blue Jackets win.
This year and possibly beyond, the team is ditching the kepi and opting for a donkey hat.
Why a donkey hat? It's apparently something Gaudreau loved to call his teammates and it's a way to carry on his memory.
"If you knew John, he probably called you a donkey before. So that was his word. He called me a donkey probably a million times," said Sean Monahan, who received the first donkey hat of the season over the weekend.
Monahan was Gaudreau's teammate before coming to Columbus. The two played together for eight years for the Calgary Flames.
"It's just a little something to remember him and obviously for after wins. It's there to remember Johnny in the best ways," Monahan said.
Monahan signed a five-year deal worth $27.5 million with Columbus, in part because he wanted to play with his friend again. Monahan's locker sits right next to Gaudreau's empty stall.
The Blue Jackets star was killed, along with his brother Matthew, by a suspected drunken driver in their home state of New Jersey on the eve of their sister's wedding in August.
The donkey hat has floppy ears and Gaudreau's No. 13 etched on the side. Monahan earned the first donkey hat after the club's 6-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche over the weekend.
"We ditched the kepi this year. We're doing the donkey of the game in honor of John. That's what he called everyone. And this first one goes to Monny [Monahan]," said defenseman Zach Werenski after the team's win.
The Blue Jackets will have their home opener on Tuesday when they welcome the Florida Panthers.
