"It's wrong": Erik Gudbranson coping hard with Johnny Gaudreau's loss after devastating car accident

By Abhishek Dilta

Modified Sep 05, 2024 03:36 GMT

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Thousands of fans gathered outside the Nationwide Arena to pay tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew on Wednesday evening.

Johnny, a forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets and known for his exceptional talent and kindness, lost his life after being struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles with his brother Matthew.

The tragic demise of the brothers took place just a day before their sister's wedding, where they were supposed to take on the role of groomsmen.

In remembrance of the Gaudreau brothers, the Blue Jackets organized a candlelight vigil on Wednesday evening, drawing a massive crowd of supporters. Attendees lit candles in honor of the brothers, watched a poignant slideshow of their cherished family moments, and observed a lengthy moment of silence.

Erik Gudbranson, along with other members of the Blue Jackets, attended the vigil to honor Johnny Gaudreau. During this emotional gathering, Gudbranson expressed the impact of Johnny's loss on him.

He stated (via The Athletic):

“Our hearts are shattered in a million pieces, there’s no doubt about that. Johnny was an amazing teammate and an amazing friend. There’s something that I’ll miss very dearly,” Gudbranson said.

“I had this little thing with John, where I’d pick him up and give him a bearhug, and I wouldn’t let him down until he told me he loved me. He wouldn’t tell me for a long time. I know now, with him up there, that it’s because he enjoyed the hug. “I just miss him so much. It’s wrong,” he added.

Notably, Johnny Gaudreau and Gudbranson played together during their stint with the Calgary Flames before becoming teammates again at the Blue Jackets. Apart from the Blue Jackets, the Flames also hosted a candlelight vigil on Wednesday evening to honor the memory of the Gaudreau brothers.

Blue Jackets president pays tribute to Johnny Gaudreau before vigil

Before the candlelight vigil, the president of the Blue Jackets, Don Waddell, expressed deep sorrow over the Gaudreau brothers' passing.

He highlighted that while the absence of Johnny creates a significant gap in the team's lineup, the emotional impact on the players and staff is even more profound (via NHL.com):

"[While] it’s a huge hole in our lineup, there is even a larger one in our hearts,” Waddell said. “I know there are questions related to our team and how we’re going to move forward without Johnny and the impact his loss will have on our lineup.

"Those questions will be for another day. Our immediate focus is on supporting the Gaudreau family and supporting each other as we continue to grieve the loss of Johnny and Matthew,” he added.

Johnny Gaudreau had an impressive career of 11 years in the NHL, in which he played for the Calgary Flames (nine seasons) and Blue Jackets (two seasons).