Johnny Gaudreau's Father Pays Tribute to Brothers' Legacy During Columbus Blue Jackets Practice

Monday, October 14th, 2024

During Columbus Blue Jackets practices, there's an activity called "Johnny skate" where players try to make a shot from one goal to the other. If successful, they earn a lap; if not, they must complete three. This was inspired by the late Johnny Gaudreau's jersey number, 13.

At practice on Monday, Johnny's father, Guy Gaudreau, chose to miss the shot on purpose. His participation was a tribute to his sons, Johnny and Matthew, who sadly died in August.

Guy Gaudreau, having a background as a hockey coach, spent time with the players, encouraging them and helping them feel Johnny's presence through his interactions.

Guy's visit wasn’t a one-time occurrence as he had also been invited to a practice by the Philadelphia Flyers. This was inspired by a supportive gesture from Flyers coach John Tortorella.

The upcoming game on Tuesday will be deeply moving for the Blue Jackets and the NHL community. Many tributes have been made to honor the Gaudreau brothers, including a specially designed mask by Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf.

Initially, Guy Gaudreau was hesitant to speak to the team but eventually shared his thoughts. He showed excitement about being involved with Johnny's team by asking about the morning skate on Tuesday.

Coach Dean Evason expressed his appreciation for Guy Gaudreau's visit and said it was wonderful having him there.

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