Blue Jacket fans in Columbus paid their respects to Johnny Gaudreau in an emotional scene at the hockey team's arena on Friday.
The hockey player and his brother Matt were killed by a suspected drunk driver Thursday evening while biking in New Jersey, where they were to serve as groomsmen at their sister's wedding on Friday.
Throughout Friday, people brought flowers and hockey gear and paid their respects.
Mary Ellen Price is a hockey mom and her two adult sons grew up playing hockey.
"My older son, Brandon, is the same age as 'Johnny Hockey.' It was so sad. Just a tragedy," she said.
On Friday, she placed some of the sons' hockey gear at the memorial.
"I brought some pictures in my son's first pair of skates, and they collected hockey pucks, and I brought the Blue Jackets pack up with their permission," Price said.
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Then, she stood back to reflect on "Johnny Hockey" and watched a stranger come up, Bob Tomaszewski, known as Hockey Bob.
He was struggling in the light breeze to light a candle he placed among the flowers, photos and pucks.
Price stepped in to help him light the candle. The season ticket holder's voice was choked with emotion when he spoke about the player.
"My sadness cannot compare to what that family is going through," Tomaszewski said.
He said the deaths are a senseless tragedy, and his grief runs deeper than his love for hockey.
"This isn't about hockey. It's about a life lost, way beyond hockey," Tomaszewski said. "I'm saddened that my team is now going to lose a star player, but I don't care. I'd give that up if he would be alive."
Even before moving to Columbus three years ago, Price brought her boys to the city to cheer on the Blue Jackets.
She said she felt compelled to contribute to the memorial and to watch over it. Tomaszewski said he too felt compelled to come and light the candle for Gaudreau.
He said the candle symbolizes eternal light.
"Flowers are going to be gone soon with the heat. But maybe that'll keep shining for a little while," Tomaszewski said.
He stuck around for some time to ensure the candle kept burning.
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matt Gaudreau, 29, are from Carneys Point, New Jersey and were supposed to be groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding that was scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia.
New Jersey State Police said the Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road when a man driving an SUV in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind about 8 p.m., less than a half-hour after sunset. They were pronounced dead on the scene.
Police said the driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. He was jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility.
According to the criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press, Higgins told a responding officer he had five or six beers prior to the crash and admitted to consuming alcohol while driving. He failed a field sobriety test, the complaint said, though his blood-alcohol level was not immediately available.
Johnny Gaudreau played 10 seasons in the league and was set to enter his third with the Blue Jackets after signing a seven-year, $68.25 million deal in 2022. He played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, a tenure that included becoming one of the sport’s top players and a fan favorite across North America.
