COLUMBUS, Ohio — Hundreds of Blue Jackets fans gathered on the Front Street Plaza outside Nationwide Arena on Wednesday evening to remember the lives and legacies of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
The hockey organization invited fans to a candlelight vigil in honor of the brothers. A memorial with bouquets of flowers, hockey sticks, notes and photos had already been accumulating in the plaza since Johnny and Matthew's deaths late last week.
Blue Jackets President and General Manager Don Waddell, captain Boone Jenner, defenseman Erik Gudbranson and forward Cole Sillinger all delivered remarks and shared some of their fondest memories of Johnny.
"This is a heartbreak that words alone cannot heal," said Jenner. "Nothing will fill the void in our hearts, but through our remembrance, we can find the strength to get through this difficult time together."
Gudbranson reflected on Johnny's commitment to his family.
"That entire time that he was away from the rink, he was sitting on the couch with Meredith and his children being the best possible father he could be. I was fortunate to sit in on a few family dinners of his and they were special," he said.
Gudbranson also touched on a personal moment that he cherished with Johnny.
"I'd pick him up and give him a bear hug and I wouldn't let him down until he told me he loved me. And he wouldn't tell me for a long time. But I know, up here today, it was because he enjoyed the hugs," he said.
Sillinger discussed how he was a fan of Johnny's when he was starting out in the league, and even pretended to be number 13 while playing pond hockey with his brothers in Saskatchewan.
"He always reminded me to never sweat the small stuff without actually telling me that," Sillinger said.
Afterward, every attendee lit their candle and stood for 13 minutes and 21 seconds of silence. The number 13 reflects what Johnny wore with the Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames and Boston College. The number 21 represents what Matthew wore at Boston College.
The two brothers were killed by a suspected drunken driver in their home state of New Jersey last week.
Johnny and Matthew were riding bicycles on a road when a man driving an SUV in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind at about 8 p.m., according to New Jersey State Police. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Johnny and Matthew died on the eve of their sister Katie's wedding. The two were set to be groomsmen.
Johnny Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” played 10 full seasons in the league and was set to enter his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets after signing a seven-year, $68 million deal in 2022. He played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames.