Blue Jackets community rallies to back the Gaudreau family

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Blue Jackets community is continuing to mourn the loss of star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew.

Their sudden death has the hockey community rallying together for a charitable cause. A fundraiser was created by CBJ Artillery, a popular Blue Jackets podcast. It teamed up with Columbus Apparel Company to make t-shirts and sweatshirts in honor of "Johnny Hockey."

Tuesday, the podcast revealed it raised $92,080. Doug Olmstead with Columbus Apparel Company said its been an around the clock effort to get the orders fulfilled.

"We're on a first name basis with our UPS driver, not only here at this facility, but at our homes just because our office can't hold all of the volume that we have coming in," Olmstead said.

Tom Summers, owner of Columbus Apparel Company, said the fundraiser has reached places like Calgary and Boston.

"Every continent, you name it," Summers. "I mean, it's just all over the world."

Jordan Mills, CBJ Artillery founder, said they could have never imagined the overwhelming response they received. But, he said they're not surprised because the Gaudreau family means so much to the hockey community.

"I almost wasn't surprised because I knew the impact the Gaudreau's have on hockey, and they transcend sports in general," Mills said. 

Columbus Apparel Company said its printing presses have been going about 20 hours a day to get all of the orders fulfilled, serving as a true testament and reminder that it goes beyond hockey.

"Every single time that there's, you know, something that comes up where we have to rally together, we always do. And it's just a beautiful thing to see and for the artillery to play a small role," Mills said. "And what we're doing for this just means the world, not only to us, but I know the city of Columbus."

"I know this means a lot to so many people and the hockey community has really come together on this one," Summers said.