Fans of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, and hockey in general, are being invited to a gathering to honour the brothers who were killed after their bicycles were hit by a car last Thursday. The Columbus Blue Jackets are organizing the event, although the focus will remain on both brothers.
In a statement, the Columbus Blue Jackets invited fans to join the team for a candlelight vigil Wednesday, Sept. 4, which will take place outside Nationwide Arena, the Blue Jackets’ home. The ceremony includes a set amount of time for a moment of silence which will honour both Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau by using their jersey numbers.
“The Columbus Blue Jackets invite fans to a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau on Wednesday, September 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The vigil will be held on the Front Street Plaza outside the east entrance to Nationwide Arena.
“The vigil will include brief remarks from the Blue Jackets organization, as well as 13:21 of silent remembrance reflecting the number 13 Johnny wore with the Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames and Boston College and the number 21 that Matthew wore at Boston College.”
Several memorials have popped up since the brothers’ death late last week while preparing to attend their sister’s wedding, which has since been postponed. In Calgary, fans left Gatorade and Skittles outside the Saddledome, which were among Johnny Gaudreau’s favourites. Gaudreau was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2011, and spent the first nine years of his career there before moving on to Columbus.
The man charged in the deaths of the Gaudreaus, Sean Higgins, remains in custody at Salem County Correctional Facility. He is a member of the National Guard, and was working at a rehab center before his arrest. Higgins has been placed on leave from his job.
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