LOS ANGELES — Meredith Gaudreau introduced the Columbus Blue Jackets’ first-round picks within the NHL draft Friday evening, 10 months after her husband, John, was killed alongside along with his brother whereas using bicycles on the eve of their sister’s wedding ceremony.
Followers on the Peacock Theater chanted “Johnny! Johnny!” in honor of the late participant nicknamed “Johnny Hockey” and cheered Meredith as she spoke.
“I simply wished to take this time to thank each single staff and each single fan base to your help for my household this previous season,” Gaudreau mentioned. “It is actually an honor to be right here, and from the underside of my coronary heart, I thanks.”
Gaudreau then mentioned the Blue Jackets have been taking Jackson Smith, who later referred to as it a surreal expertise. Smith on a video name with reporters added he was grateful to be a part of the poignant scene.
“It was unbelievable,” Smith mentioned. “Simply to see the help within the stands, within the crowd, for the Gaudreau household, it was an unbelievable second, so to be picked proper after that felt even further particular for me.”
Gaudreau additionally introduced the Blue Jackets’ second choose of the primary spherical, which they used to pick Pyotr Andreyanov at No. 20.
The Related Press contributed to this report.