Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's Mother Jane Expresses Gratitude to the Columbus Blue Jackets

Still fresh in the minds of many are the tragic deaths are Johnny & Matthew Gaudreau who were sadly killed in a cycling accident after being struck by a drunk driver. It was a senseless tragedy that has everlasting consequences for all involved, and the loss of both men has affected so many lives, and not for the better.

Since the passing, tributes, and memorials poured in as a wave of condolences, admiration, support, and love surrounded the Gaudreau family during this obviously difficult time, and many teams have taken to paying tribute before their games. Gaudreau's former club, the Columbus Blue Jackets held a beautiful tribute complete with video tributes, a message from Johnny's widow Meredith, and a ceremonial faceoff where Columbus paid homage to Gaudreau.

It's been a very tough week for the Gaudreau family, and now the matriarch of the family has taken to social media to show her love and appreciation for the organization. Jane Gaudreau; Johnny and Matthew's mother, wrote on her personal X account thanking Columbus for all of the love and support:

Many players have taken to paying tribute to Gaudreau in a variety of different ways. Whether it's Cole Caufield changing his jersey number to pay homage to his childhood hero, or former teammate Sean Monahan pointing to Gaudreau's banner in the rafters after scoring; the tributes have been plentiful and for good reason.

Gaudreau's impact on the game of hockey should not be understated. Paving the way for smaller players such as Caufield to be able to get to the NHL, proving you don't always need to be the biggest or strongest to find success. A gentleman on and off the ice, Gaudreau earned the praise and respect of his colleagues through his passion for the game and undying love for his community and family and his legacy will last forever.

It was a mark of high class for Jane Gaudreau to publicly show her love and appreciation for the Columbus Blue Jackets, as it was equally classy for Columbus to honor Gaudreau as beautifully as they did.