Johnny Gaudreau, brother Matthew remembered at vigils in Columbus, Calgary

At a building and for a franchise known for cannon blasts after goals, the 13 minutes and 21 seconds of silence outside Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, were striking.

Those numbers represented the 13 worn by Johnny Gaudreau throughout his career, including the past two seasons for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the 21 worn by his brother, Matthew, when he and Johnny were teammates at Boston College.

They were remembered at a moving candlelight vigil after Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, died last Thursday when they were struck by a car while riding bicycles near their home in Salem County, New Jersey. A memorial service will be held Monday at 12 p.m. ET.

In both Columbus and Calgary, the two cities in which Johnny Gaudreau thrilled fans and left an indelible impression over 11 NHL seasons, they gathered on Wednesday in remembrance of the two brothers who brought such joy to the rink.

Nationwide Arena’s east plaza, where a shrine to the Gaudreaus has been growing since early Friday morning, was packed with fans yet eerily quiet except for the whispers and sniffles of fans trying to contain their tears.

“You guys are not only standing by us in tough times and hockey seasons, but when it matters most,” Columbus defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. “Our hearts are shattered in a million pieces. There's no doubt about that. John, he was an amazing teammate, an amazing friend.”

Gudbranson, captain Boone Jenner, forward Cole Sillinger and general manager Don Waddell spoke during the 35-minute ceremony, which ended just after sunset.

“This is obviously a very difficult time for all of us, each one of you (fans) included,” Waddell said. “We have a special group of people in this organization, a special group of players, and along with you, we will get through this together.”

Prior to the vigil, fans -- many in Gaudreau Blue Jackets jerseys, others in those bearing his Flames No. 13 -- continued leaving mementos such as flowers, cards and a Johnny favorite: grape Gatorade.

“He was a friend, father, a husband, son and a brother, as we all got to witness,” Jenner said. “He was an amazing hockey player that played with such passion and joy every time he took the ice. He carried that same joy off the ice.

“He was such a fun guy to be around. He had that smile that could always cheer you up no matter what. He was the happiest with his wife (Meredith) and two kids, Noa and Johnny. His family meant everything to him. We are so blessed to have known him and will always remember the man he was.”

Numerous Blue Jackets players already in Columbus for the start of training camp Sept. 20 were in attendance.

Sillinger said he grew up an Edmonton Oilers fan but that something changed when Gaudreau joined the rival Calgary Flames full time in the 2014-15 season.

“I became an Oilers/Gaudreau fan, which was pretty oxymoronic,” he said. “My brothers and I played a lot of pond hockey in Saskatchewan. Quite often we'd be pretending to be No. 13 for the Calgary Flames.”

Sillinger was the last to speak before candles were lit and clocks on the entrance marquees counted toward 13:21. To the left across the street, a giant video board above a parking garage showed Johnny, Matthew and their families.

In Calgary, fans gathered on the west stairs of the Scotiabank Saddledome, with the No. 13 projected onto the facade of the building. Gaudreau played nine seasons in Calgary after the Flames selected him in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft.

"Johnny was a great teammate and friend,” said Calgary captain Mikael Backlund, Gaudreau’s teammate for his entire tenure with the Flames. “I feel lucky I got to see him firsthand, growing up from a college boy into a man. I remember sitting injured on my couch in my apartment in Calgary watching Johnny Hockey's first NHL game. Of course he scored a goal right away.”

Backlund was joined in speaking by the organization’s president and CEO, Robert Hayes; general manager Craig Conroy; and franchise icon Lanny McDonald. Several current players were joined by some of Gaudreau's teammates with the Flames.

Just as in Columbus, there was a 13-minute moment of silence, with arms raised shining flashlights from cell phones.

"This is an amazing turnout for Johnny and Matthew, but I'm not surprised,” Conroy said. “Flames fans, right from the beginning we heard this tragic news, there was just a little bit right here and every day I came out there was more and more and more, and now to see all of you here, this is what makes me proud to be a Calgarian, and this is what made Johnny so proud of this city."

Gudbranson, the Columbus defenseman, played with Gaudreau in Calgary as well during the 2021-22 season.

“On a personal note, something that I'll very dearly miss,” he said before pausing to compose himself. “I had this little thing with John where I’d pick him up and give him a bear hug and I wouldn't let him down until he told me he loved me. And he wouldn't tell me for a long time.

“But I know up here today that it was because he enjoyed the hugs, and it's just we just miss him so much. It's wrong.”

NHL.com independent correspondent Aaron Vickers contributed to this report