Team, fans to honor Johnny Hockey as Blue Jackets hold preseason home game

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Wednesday is the first preseason home game for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

However, anticipation for the season at Nationwide Arena comes with heavy hearts.

Wednesday marks the first home game since the death of forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew.

The fifth line said it has plans to help his legacy live on.

Watch: Blue Jackets’ preseason home opener bittersweet

“I think between all the fans and players, the staff and our staff here at our bar, everybody’s still really feeling that,” said Natalie Darr, the owner of the R Bar.

Fans said there are a lot of emotions surrounding the start of the season and these last few weeks have been difficult for the entire City of Columbus.

“Well, it’ll be interesting because, obviously, you know, a lot of people are still grieving,” said Tim Emery, the owner of Boston’s Pizza.

It’s been almost a month since Johnny and Matthew were killed after being hit by a suspected drunk driver while riding bicycles in their hometown in New Jersey. They were set to be groomsmen at their sister’s wedding the next day.

Since their deaths, Blue Jackets fans have started a memorial outside the arena which has since been moved inside. The organization also held a candlelight vigil in their honor.

“We appreciate every small gesture, every huge gesture, but nothing changes what happened, and it’s definitely going to stick with everybody for a long time,” Darr said.

Both R Bar and Boston’s are arena district businesses that are hubs for CBJ fans. The business owners said the preseason game will be different than any other.

“I think people will be happy, as I said, to just get together and kind of be together in that area that they’re used to, and hopefully that starts to help people here a little bit,” Emory said.

The Blue Jackets will have a moment of silence in honor of the brothers. There will be a 50/50 raffle with all of the proceeds going to the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation. The team will also wear stickers on their helmets that have Johnny’s number 13 and Matthew’s number 21 along with their last name and a dove.

The team also plans to bring Johnny’s jersey to every game.

“I think they’ve done everything as well as can be expected,” Emery said. “They’ve handled this well. I mean, you know, there’s no playbook for this.”

Both businesses hope that, with the 13 jersey looking over the team, means it will be a fortunate year for the Blue Jackets.

“Just a successful, healthy year for all of our players,” Darr said.

Emery said his staff will be wearing patches with the number 13 on them in honor of Johnny Hockey. Darr said they have plans to add a memorial in honor of Johnny Hockey to their walls as well.

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