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NHL

Young fan heartbreakingly adds stick to Johnny Gaudreau memorial as fans mourned outside Blue Jackets arena

By
Joseph Staszewski
Published Aug. 31, 2024, 10:29 a.m. ET

Even the youngest fans are showing just how much Johnny Gaudreau meant to them as the outpouring of emotions continues after the Blue Jackets star and his brother’s tragic deaths.

Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, were struck by a car while riding bikes in Oldmans Township, NJ on Thursday night – a day before their sister Katie was set to be married to fellow hockey player Devin Joyce in Philadelphia.

The car’s driver, Sean Higgins – who is suspected to have been drunk – struck the Guadreaus from behind while attempting to pass an SUV around 8 p.m., according to multiple reports.

Their deaths have sparked a wave of tributes and memorials, including one outside Nationwide Arena, in Columbus, Ohio, where the Blue Jackets play.

Adam King, a 10TV sports anchor, captured a heartbreaking video on Friday of a young fan placing his hockey stick in the line of flowers and leaning up against the arena. 

Johnny Gaudreau of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Johnny Gaudreau of the Columbus Blue Jackets died on Thursday. Getty Images
A young fans adds his No. 13 stick to the memorial for Johnny Gaudreau outside Nationwide Arena on Friday.
A young fans adds his No. 13 stick to the memorial for Johnny Gaudreau outside Nationwide Arena on Friday. @AdamKingTV10/X

The stick has a No. 13 on it – Gaudreau’s number with the Blue Jackets.

“I’ve been sick all morning with the news- this made me cry,” user VGX_Storm wrote in reply.  “Sending love and prayers to the family, friends and teammates.”

Added @sabaanwar000: “That’s such a touching gesture from the young Blue Jackets fan, adding his stick with the number 13 to the Johnny Gaudreau memorial. It’s moments like these that show the unity and respect within the hockey community.”

Mourners hold a candlelight vigil outside Nationwide Arena on Aug. 30 beside a makeshift memorial for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed in a bicycle accident the night before
Mourners hold a candlelight vigil outside Nationwide Arena on Aug. 30 beside a makeshift memorial for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed in a bicycle accident the night before Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY Network
Meaghan Little of Columbus leaves a note outside Nationwide Arena at a makeshift memorial for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed in a bicycle accident the night before. Mandatory Credit: Adam
Meaghan Little of Columbus leaves a note outside Nationwide Arena at a makeshift memorial for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed in a bicycle accident the night before. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY Network
A makeshift memorial grows outside Nationwide Arena for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed in a bicycle accident the night before.
A makeshift memorial grows outside Nationwide Arena on Aug. 30 for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed in a bicycle accident the night before. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY Network

Photos from the memorial show it growing including a large No. 13 that fans can write messages on and fans held a candlelight vigil outside the arena.

One hockey stick laid down reads: “Thank you for making my time here better Johnny. It means a lot.”  

One touching set of photos shows a man in a Gaudreau jersey being hugged by a young girl as he sits looking at the memorial as another fan comes over to comfort them both. 

Gaudreau’s wife Meredith wrote a moving tribute to her husband on social media Saturday morning

Visitors leave notes on hockey sticks outside Nationwide Arena.
Visitors leave notes on hockey sticks outside Nationwide Arena. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY Network
Shiloh Rivera, facing, mourns with Hylas Stemen of Columbus, at the makeshift memorial set up by fans for Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Shiloh Rivera, facing, mourns with Hylas Stemen of Columbus, at the makeshift memorial set up by fans for Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. AP
Hylas Stemen, sitting, of Columbus, mourns at a memorial set up by fans for Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 30, 2024.
Hylas Stemen, sitting, of Columbus, mourns at a memorial set up by fans for Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 30, 2024. AP

Johnny Gaudreau played 11 seasons in the NHL – including nine with the Flames – and was heading into this third season in Columbus. 

The player nicknamed “Johnny Hockey” had 243 career goals and 500 assists and was a one-time All-Star.