Columbus Blue Jackets swap post-win kepi hat for donkey hat, honoring Johnny Gaudreau

The Columbus Blue Jackets are putting a new twist on an old locker room tradition.

In the past, the Blue Jackets would award a Civil War-style Kepi hat to a player chosen by his teammates after a victory. But after the team's Saturday night win against the Colorado Avalanche, the Kepi hat was nowhere in sight.

Instead, center Sean Monahan sported a donkey hat complete with floppy ears. The new headwear is to honor Johnny Gaudreau, who would frequently call teammates "donkeys," according to Monahan.

"I think he's probably looking down laughing at me right now," Monahan said in an interview with Bally Sports Columbus.

Monahan, who turned 30 on Saturday, scored a goal in the Blue Jackets' 6-4 win against the Colorado Avalanche.

"To be honest, it’s emotional,” Monahan said. “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."

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while they were biking in Oldmans Township, New Jersey on Aug. 29.

NHart@dispatch.com

@NathanRHart

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets swap post-win kepi hat for donkey hat, honoring Johnny Gaudreau