Tears shed as Johnny Gaudreau’s teammate pays tribute to him in moving way

Over the weekend, Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins announced that he and his wife Aleksanda had welcomed a second son into the world. The beautiful news first came with some worry as it was reported that the newborn, Jaxon John Merzlikins, had to stay in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for undisclosed reasons before going home with his parents.
Making the announcement on his personal Instagram account, Merzlikins thanked Riverside Hospital and Nationwide Children’s Hospital doctors, nurses and staff. They also thanked Merzlikins’ Blue Jackets teammates, coaches and staff along with the team’s “special welcome home.”

The wonderful post also came with a bittersweet sense of loss of a beloved teammate. Loved ones and fans of Merzlikins immediately noticed how the boy had the middle name John, a tribute to Merzlikins ‘ fallen teammate Johnny Gaudreau.

Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew were killed Aug. 29 after being struck by a vehicle while riding bicycles near their home in Salem County, New Jersey. Their memories have been honoured on different occasions, and each time, they mean so much to the Gaudreau family.

It is not the first time Merzlikins chooses to pay tribute to a teammate that died too young. Both of his boys have middle names of teammates that passed way too early as his first son was named after teammate and countryman Matīss Kivlenieks died in a fireworks accident on 4 July 2021, protecting Merzļikins and his family.

Johnny Gaudreau’s widow Meredith commented the pictures of Jaxon John, already in love with the little guy.