As the outpouring of emotions continues following the tragic deaths of the Blue Jackets star and his brother, even the youngest fans are showing just how much Johnny Gaudreau meant to them.
Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, were hit by a car while riding their bicycles in Old Mans Township, New Jersey, on Thursday night, the day before their sister Katie was to marry hockey clubmate Devin Joyce in Philadelphia.
According to multiple reports, the driver of the car, Shawn Higgins, was believed to have been drinking when he struck the Guadreau couple from behind while attempting to pass an SUV around 8pm.
Their deaths prompted a flurry of tributes and memorials outside Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, the Blue Jackets' home stadium.
10TV sportscaster Adam King captured heartbreaking video Friday of a young fan placing a hockey stick in a row of flowers and leaning against the arena.
The stick has the number 13 engraved on it, which was Gaudreau's uniform number when he played for the Blue Jackets.
“Hearing this news has made me sick this morning. It's brought me to tears,” user VGX_Storm replied. “Sending love and prayers to his family, friends and teammates.”
@sabaanwar000 added: “It was so touching to see a young Blue Jackets fan bring his No. 13 stick to Johnny Gaudreau's memorial. It's moments like these that show unity and respect within the hockey community.”
Photos of the memorial show it growing, including a large No. 13 sign where fans can write messages and candlelight vigils where fans held outside the arena.
One of the hockey sticks had the following written on it: “Thank you Johnny for making my time here even better. It makes me so happy.”
Emotional photos show a man wearing a Gaudreau jersey sitting looking out at the memorial and being embraced by a young girl while another fan comforts them both.
Gaudreau's wife, Meredith, posted a moving tribute to her husband on social media Saturday morning.
Johnny Gaudreau played 11 seasons in the NHL, nine of them with the Flames, and was in his third season with Columbus.
Nicknamed “Johnny Hockey,” the player recorded 243 goals and 500 assists in his career and was a one-time All-Star.
