Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets are a National Hockey League team based in Columbus, Ohio.

Franchise history

One of the NHL's newest teams, the Blue Jackets took to the ice for the first time on October 7, 2000, with a 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Bruce Gardiner scored the first goal in franchise history.

Related Topics:
October 7 - 2000 - Chicago Blackhawks - Bruce Gardiner

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The team's nickname was selected from suggestions by fans. There are at least four possible factors that may have contributed to the selection of the name.

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• At the time the name was first announced, some media reports speculated that because team owner John H. McConnell's favorite color is blue, he had directed that any name selected for the team must contain the word blue.
• The logo for the team that was initially unveiled featured "an insect with an attitude," suggesting that the name is a play on the term yellowjacket (a type of wasp and the nickname of various other teams, including the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets). The insect logo was reduced to secondary status before the team began play and was eliminated entirely during the 2003-04 season. The only remnant of the insect theme remains with the team mascot, a big green bug affectionately known as "Stinger."
• The name may have been intended to honor the Shawnee leader Blue Jacket, who lived in the region, but the team has not used any Native American symbolism in its marketing.
• The term Blue Jacket is also a reference to the uniform of the Union army in the American Civil War. The team has included some Civil War references in its marketing, but has not heavily promoted it.

Tragedy struck the Blue Jackets organization when, in March 2002, 13-year-old Brittanie Cecil was killed after an errant shot by Espen Knutsen struck her in the head while watching a Columbus-Calgary game in the stands. As a result of this death, nylon mesh nets have now been installed in all NHL arenas above the area behind the goals to shield spectators from flying pucks.

Related Topics:
Espen Knutsen - Calgary

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The team has never made the playoffs in its short history, but players like Geoff Sanderson, who scored 34 goals in 2002-03, and first-overall draft pick Rick Nash could change that in the near future. Nash scored 41 goals in 2003-04 to earn a share of the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy.

Related Topics:
Geoff Sanderson - 2002-03 - Rick Nash - 2003-04 - Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy

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