Don Waddell takes on leadership role with Blue Jackets in wake of Johnny Gaudreau tragedy, drawing parallels to his past experiences

In the aftermath of the tragic news of the passing of star forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, the hockey world was left in shock. The Columbus Blue Jackets were plunged into mourning, with team president and general manager Don Waddell receiving an outpouring of support.

In a sea of messages, one stood out among the rest. Graham and LuAnn Snyder, whose son Dan tragically lost his life in a car accident involving Atlanta Thrashers teammate Dany Heatley back in 2003, reached out to Waddell. The Snyders, who had been through a similar heartbreak, sent a message of strength and support to Waddell, assuring him that he could lead the organization through this tragedy just as he did with the Thrashers.

“I thought, ‘Oh jeez, Don, how are you going to get through this?’” Graham Snyder recalled. “Nobody wants that job, but he certainly helped us, and the organization did. I just felt we had to reach out to him. Because who can think about going through that twice in your life?”

The gesture from the Snyders deeply touched Waddell. “When Graham and LuAnn reached out to me that Friday, it meant the world to me,” Waddell shared with The Athletic. “Because the family went through it, losing one of their two sons, that’s never easy for anybody. How they dealt with it and how we’ve stayed in touch over the years, it just meant the world to me to hear from them knowing that as parents who went through it, they felt we handled it as well as we could of and supported them.”

Graham Snyder, reflecting on the support they received after their son’s passing, emphasized the strength of the hockey community. “One of the things that kind of got us through it, and it’s what is happening right now in Columbus and around the hockey world, people are really, really coming together,” Snyder said. “I think it’s like no other sport. The hockey world is so connected and so tight. That’s how they’ll get through it now, with the support from others in the hockey world.”

In times of adversity, the unity and bond within the hockey community shine through, providing solace and strength to those who are grieving. As the Columbus Blue Jackets navigate this difficult period, they can take comfort in the unwavering support and camaraderie that surrounds them.