The Columbus Blue Jackets now have what they call a “Johnny skate” at the end of practice. It is a shot that someone takes from the other end of the ice towards the opposing goal. Do it, the players skate a lap. Don’t miss it, the players skate three laps.
It’s like 1 and 3. 13. Johnny Gaudreau‘s jersey number.
And Monday’s shooter missed on purpose. No one cared, since he was Johnny Gaudreau’s father.
Man Gaudreau, the father of late brothers John and Matthew Gaudreau, was invited to Blue Jackets practice in Columbus, a day before the team’s home opener against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. He skated with some players, tapped the ice with his stick to encourage the players as they skated, and gave everyone a fist bump before the session ended.
“He loves the game, he loves hockey,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. “It was a pleasure having him there.”
Man Gaudreau is a former hockey coach at Hollydell Ice Enviornment and Gloucester Catholic Excessive College in New Jersey. John Gaudreau, a star who would have entered his third season with the Blue Jackets and his 11th full season in the NHL, and Matthew Gaudreau died Aug. 29 when police said they were hit by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bicycles. a country road in South Jersey on the eve of his sister Katie’s wedding.
“It’s great to have Man here,” Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly said. “It just reminds you of the exact same things John would do.”
Monday wasn’t Man Gaudreau’s first time on the ice this season; He was a guest of the Philadelphia Flyers last month. Evason said the team got the idea to have Man Gaudreau at practice because of a gesture Flyers coach John Tortorella made.
Tuesday night will be emotional for the Blue Jackets, actually for the entire NHL. Tributes to the Gaudreau brothers have poured in from around the hockey world over the past few weeks. In Calgary, where “Johnny Hockey” began his NHL career, goalie Dustin Wolf’s mask is now a monument of sorts to the Gaudreau brothers, complete with their jersey numbers, Johnny Gaudreau in a Flames uniform and even featuring Gatorade and purple Skittles, two of his favorite treats.
Man Gaudreau was asked if he wanted to address the team on Monday and initially declined, but eventually had a quick chat with the players. And in case there was any question about whether he enjoyed being on the ice with Johnny’s club on Monday, he had a question for Evason after practice.
The question: are you going to skate in the morning on Tuesday?
When told the Blue Jackets were, Man Gaudreau said he’d be there for that, too.
“He just wants to be around,” Evason said. “It’s fantastic.”