Blue Jackets fans come together for bittersweet open practice

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Columbus Blue Jackets fans took time Sunday to catch the team on the ice for an open practice for a bittersweet gathering.

The Ice Haus welcomed dozens of hockey fans as the Blue Jackets prepare for its preseason opener Monday against the Sabres in Buffalo. There were no open seats in the house.

Blue Jackets fans used the opportunity to show its love to the team since the deaths of star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew on Aug. 29. This was the first time since a Sept. 4 vigil fans and players were together and the first time they show the team on the ice without Johnny Hockey.

Watch: Blue Jackets fans come together for bittersweet open practice

The brothers were killed when the bicycles they were riding were hit by a car in New Jersey . The driver, Sean Higgins, told police he had been drinking . “We’re still feeling it. We’re going to feel it for a long long time there’s no doubt about that,” said Bob McElligott, the team’s radio play-by-play broadcaster. “The one thing about Johnny Gaudraeu is that he loved the game of hockey and he would want his teammates to be out there playing as hard as they can.”

Columbus plans to honor the Gaudreau brothers all season and it will begin Monday when the Jackets will wear a blue helmet sticker that reads “GAUDREAU” for the first time. During the Jackets preseason home opener on Wednesday against the Blues, a moment of silence will be held.

The regular season opener is Oct. 10 at the Minnesota Wild. The first regular season game at Nationwide Arena will be Oct. 15 against the defending champion Florida Panthers.

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