Johnny Gaudreau's Blue Jackets teammate opens up on emotional rollercoaster ahead of pre-game ceremony for former star

By Ankit Kumar

Modified Oct 15, 2024 16:35 GMT

The Columbus Blue Jackets are preparing for a pre-game ceremony to honor Johnny Gaudreau. The Jackets will honor the Gaudreau brothers before Tuesday night's home opener against Florida, with their family present.

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's death in August impacted Johnny's teammates. Sean Monahan, a close friend and teammate of Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary, shared how the Blue Jackets are feeling.

"To be honest, I’m not sure (what to expect),” Monahan said per The Athletic. “I don’t have an answer. We’re going to step on the ice … you play for John. If he was here, he’d be really excited for a day like this, the home opener. So we have to be excited for it."

Monahan admitted that emotions could unexpectedly kick in.

“They come in waves. When I think about John, I think about how easy-going he was, how he loved to play the game,” he said.

After the team’s 6-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, Monahan received the first “donkey” cap of the season. The cap honors Gaudreau’s memory, including a patch with his jersey number, 13. Gaudreau had a playful habit of calling teammates “donkey.” After the game, Monahan spoke about the emotional moment.

“Yeah, I know it’s emotional,” Monahan said per SK. “It’s nice to get our first win. You feel the love from this organization. I feel the love from my teammates, and obviously, I can feel the love from John.”

Monahan had a crucial part in the win, scoring a power-play goal and adding two assists. He played 20 minutes and 20 seconds, finishing with a +2 rating.

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau died in a bike accident caused by a drunk driver. The accident happened just before their sister’s wedding, where they were supposed to be groomsmen. Their deaths deeply affected the Blue Jackets, especially Monahan, who was close friends with Johnny.

Sean Manohan shares talking to Johnny Gaudreau about CBJ

A reporter asked Sean Manohan about conversations with Johnny Gaudreau regarding the Blue Jackets. Manohan joined Columbus this year.

“We didn’t really talk much about that,” Monahan said per SK. “We had a pretty unique relationship. Obviously, we talked about hockey, how he was doing. I would follow him closely, but that wasn’t a conversation we had.”

Johnny Gaudreau’s memory continues to inspire the team. Each game this season holds special meaning for Monahan and his teammates.