Flyers players honor Gaudreau brothers, wear high school jerseys to game

The Philadelphia Flyers honored the memory of the Gaudreau brothers by wearing their high school hockey jerseys to their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Flyers players entered Wells Fargo Center wearing home red Gloucester Catholic Rams sweaters with either Johnny's No. 13 or Matthew's No. 21 on the back.

"Everybody wants to honor Johnny, so do we. We've been through it. It's something that is definitely not a negative, as far as people and their process of healing and celebrating who he was," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "We encourage it and will be part of it, which we always are."

Both Gaudreaus were star hockey players at Gloucester Catholic, less than 15 minutes away over the Walt Whitman Bridge from where the Flyers play their home games. Johnny and Matthew died tragically on Aug. 29 when they were struck by an alleged drunk driver who has been charged with two counts of death by auto, while riding bicycles near their home in Salem County, New Jersey.

Johnny Gaudreau went on to become seven-time NHL All-Star, first for the Calgary Flames and then with the Blue Jackets. The NHL community as a whole has found unique ways to honor the brothers from the very start of this season.

"I'm gonna see Guy (Gaudreau, Johnny and Matthew's father) and his family before the game. We stay in touch. He's been great for the team," Flyers coach John Tortorella said. "They've done a little traveling, you see they've been out in Calgary. It's been a lot. Holidays, it's hard, I'm sure, for the family. We're going to try to make them as comfortable as possible when they come here tonight, in obviously, a circumstance that's a hell of a lot bigger than a damn hockey game. So I haven't seen him in a little bit. He's been bouncing around. We've communicated. I'm anxious to see him tonight, and his family."

The Gaudreau family took the ice before the start of the game for the ceremonial puck drop.

Saturday marked the first time the Blue Jackets played in Philadelphia this season.

- NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor Adam Kimelman contributed to this report.