Meredith Gaudreau Honors Late Husband Johnny with Help from Columbus Blue Jackets and Captain Boone Jenner (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Meredith Gaudreau (right) with son Johnny.Photo:Jason Mowry/Getty

Jason Mowry/Getty

TheColumbus Blue Jacketshonored late hockey starJohnny Gaudreauwith a special tribute, thanks to his widow,Meredith Gaudreau, and the team’s captain, Boone Jenner.

Jenner, 31, tells PEOPLE, “Every team has an outfit going into these outdoor games, and unfortunately, with Johnny not being there, we wanted to honor him in some way.”

“We definitely honor [Johnny]throughout the seasonwith his jersey in the stall anddifferent things, and we have a hat after the game and patches on our shirt, but we wanted to do something for this stadium series game to honor him as well,” he continues.

“We were going back and forth on what to do, and we just went with his signature fit — the hat, the boots, the sweatpants, and then his sweater from … the Avalon Surf Club,” adds Jenner, explaining that Johnny “had it in every color.”

Columbus Blue Jackets players arrive at Ohio Stadium on March 1, 2025.Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty

Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty

Meredith, who led the team onto the ice at the event, “was on board” right away with the idea, Jenner tells PEOPLE.

“Meredith was a big help in putting it together and finding pictures of John wearing this stuff, and ordering sweaters for us,” he continues. “It just really reminds us of him. We can picture him in those clothes.”

Jenner also says that it’s “unbelievable how strong” Meredith andthe Gaudreau family have beensince the tragedy last summer.

“Speaking firsthand, Meredith is across the street from us here in Columbus, and we see her a lot. We just want to support her and help her in any way,” he continues. “She seems to amaze us every day with her strength.”

“Being the best mom to her kids, and everything she has to deal with, it’s truly incredible and inspiring the strength she has,” Jenner adds.

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Columbus Blue Jackets teammates and staff.Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty

Speaking overall of the Gaudreau family, who lost the brothers on theeve of their sister’s weddingand amidboth their wives' pregnancies, the Blue Jackets captain says it’s “tough to put into words what they’re going through.”

Jenner also praisesthe Blue Jackets fanbasefor their devotion to keeping Johnny’s legacy alive following the tragedy.

“They’ve been incredible, but that’s not surprising with the fans here in Columbus,” he says. “[They’re] truly incredible fans that show up in the best of times, and obviously, in the worst of times that are there.”

“And the things that you see around the arena that they’ve done in memory of John is truly very special,” Jenner adds, referencing the"special moment" when fans sang “Happy Birthday"to Johnny Jr. on his first birthday on Feb. 22.

“It just goes to show how many people he touched here in Columbus in two years, and then obviously around the whole hockey world. So it’s pretty special, but the fans have done this and been there for the family as well,” he continues.

The 2025 NHL Stadium Series outdoor game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium will be broadcast live tonight at 6pm ET on ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+. Approximately 90,000 fans are expected to attend the game, making it the second biggest crowd in NHL history.

source: people.com