Blue Jackets honor Gaudreau brothers at home game

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Blue Jackets played its first pre-season home game Wednesday, taking some time before the puck dropped to acknowledge the memory of their late teammate Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who died last month. 

Jackets fans like Bob Axelrad are still reeling from the loss.   

“I don't know how, how long it's going to take to get over this,” Axelrad said. “I hope they decided to play this season for Johnny and really do a good job because we deserve it.”  

The Gaudreau brothers were hit by a suspected drunk driver in New Jersey on Aug. 29 while riding their bikes. Before Wednesday’s game, they were honored with a 13-second moment of silence -- the number of Johnny's jersey.  

Fan Theresa Forsythe believes it was a more than appropriate moment.   

“This is where he felt the family when he wasn't with his family,” Forsythe said. “So for us to be able to be together and, you know, to have that moment to make sure his family knows that we're thinking of them and thinking of him is important.”  

Though these fans are still mourning their beloved Johnny Hockey, fan James Hill notes that their biggest hope is that this will bring the team and the community closer as they move forward on this season. 

“Hopefully with Johnny's passing that it will bring our teams, our team together and play as a team when as a team loses a team,” Hill said.   

The Blue Jackets beat the St. Louis Blues 3-0. Denton Mateychuk and Kirill Marchenko scored for Columbus, with forward Sean Kuraly picking up assists on both. Kent Johnson got an empty-net goal with 43 seconds left.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.