Hero’s Welcome for Zach Werenski
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — On Saturday night, Zach Werenski, a celebrated Olympic gold medalist, received a hero’s welcome from fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets prior to their match against the New York Islanders. Before the game, attendees were treated to a video montage showcasing Werenski’s crucial assist to Jack Hughes, which clinched the gold for Team USA in their 2-1 triumph over Canada during the Milan-Cortina Olympics on February 22.
Tribute and Recognition
As the video concluded, the atmosphere surged with energy when Werenski stood near the Blue Jackets’ bench, eliciting a thunderous ovation accompanied by chants of “USA!” echoing throughout Nationwide Arena.
Fans flocked to view Werenski’s Olympic jersey and gold medal displayed in the arena’s main concourse, creating a line that wrapped halfway around the venue. Werenski expressed his gratitude, saying,
“It was really cool. I was excited for it and it’s super special coming back here and seeing that and seeing our fans get behind it.”
The tribute also recognized Johnny Gaudreau, who tragically passed away along with his brother in a biking accident in August 2024. A tribute video highlighted Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk donning a jersey in memory of Gaudreau, who spent two seasons with the Blue Jackets, and whose No. 13 now hangs in the rafters.
Werenski’s Stellar Performance
Despite recent hectic weeks filled with Olympic duties and public appearances, including at the White House, Werenski’s performance on the ice has remained stellar. In the two games since returning from the Olympic break, he has recorded three assists, contributing two during the game against the Islanders. Notably, he has now achieved points in nine consecutive games, setting a franchise record for a defenseman.
At present, Werenski ranks second among NHL defensemen with 65 points, having amassed 13 points in his last nine games (two goals, 11 assists). His impressive performance included the notable feat of achieving his 100th career multipoint game on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in his ten-year NHL journey. He reached this milestone faster than many, with only Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox, and Erik Karlsson reaching 100 points in fewer games than Werenski’s 621.
Disappointing Outcome
However, despite his personal achievements, the night ended on a disappointing note for both him and the Blue Jackets, who suffered a 4-3 overtime defeat to the Islanders. This follows a lackluster streak, having lost ground after previously winning seven straight games. Currently, Columbus lags behind the Islanders by seven points and trails five points from Boston for the wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Reflecting on the recent games, Werenski voiced his frustration, remarking,
“I think both games probably deserved four points, and we came away with one against two teams we’re chasing, and we only have 24 games left now. So extremely disappointing. But in saying that, we’ve got a lot of hockey left, and we’re still in it, so we’ll move on to the (New York) Rangers on Monday.”
