photo credit: Adam Welch
The Blue Jackets will be playing for something more than just a playoff appearance or Stanley Cup this season. The team was heart-broken and shocked this off-season after the devastating loss of Johnny Gaudreau after he and his brother Matthew were struck by a drunk driver on Aug. 29th. With his passing coming so close to training camps and the pre-season, I wanted to know how the players are continuing to deal with Gaudreau’s passing.
I spoke with Blue Jackets Team Reporter Jeff Svoboda to learn more about how the Jackets are moving forward. As the official team reporter, Svoboda is constantly around the team, whether it’s post-game interviews with the players, or going on road trips as far as Edmonton to cover Blue Jackets hockey. Here are some of the key takeaways from my conversation with Svoboda.
Svoboda noted that it was a shock to all within the organization, and that it’s something that no one in the organization ever expected or prepared for before.
“A player who’s in the facility every single day suddenly taken away from us, is something that can affect you heavily and something you never want to see,” Svoboda said.
He also pointed out how it’s an unfamiliar scenario for many NHL teams and it’s something that the team will have to process as a franchise and group for the first time. However, Jeff pointed out that this loss has made the players more tight knit than ever.
With Gaudreau’s passing being so close to training camp and pre-season, it allowed the players to surround themselves with each other and get to talk. Sitting down in the locker room to talk about memories with Gaudreau allowed the players to bond and remember him together.
While players and fans alike wish Johnny Gaudreau was a part of this year’s Blue Jackets campaign, there is still anticipation for an exciting upcoming season. A team more united than ever surrounded by a young core is ready to take it to the next level under promising coaching hire Dean Evason. A breakout season from one of the young players like Adam Fantili or Cole Silinger could be just what the team needs. The team also gets the opportunity to play in Ohio Stadium this year on Mar. 1. Outdoor hockey is something that usually only occurs once or twice a year for an NHL team. Never before has the Blue Jackets hosted an outdoor game, because The Ohio State University didn’t allow a game to be played over the turf until this year. The Blue Jackets will be playing the Detroit Red Wings, and due to the capacity of the stadium the game has the chance of clearing 90,000 to 100,000 fans present for an electric and once in a lifetime Blue Jackets atmosphere.
Seeing a playoff berth from this team this season would be an incredibly emotional experience. Seeing a team that has been struggling for years on end clinch a playoff appearance after losing a beloved teammate in Johnny Gaudreau would mean everything to the 5th line faithful.
