Columbus Celebrates Zach Werenski's Olympic Gold Medal

Zach Werenski skated onto the ice Saturday night not just as a Columbus Blue Jackets defender, but as an Olympic champion coming home.

Before their game against the New York Islanders, the Blue Jackets celebrated Werenski's gold medal performance at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. A massive video played on the scoreboard showing his assist to Jack Hughes for the winning goal in Team USA's 2-1 victory over Canada on February 22.

The arena erupted. Fans rose to their feet, chanting "USA!" as Werenski stood on the bench, soaking in the moment.

"It was really cool," Werenski said. "It's super special coming back here and seeing our fans get behind it."

Hours before the game, fans lined up halfway around Nationwide Arena to take pictures with Werenski's Olympic jersey and gold medal on display in the main concourse. The line snaked through the building as people waited for their chance to stand next to a piece of Olympic history.

The celebration also honored the late Johnny Gaudreau. The pregame video showed Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk skating with Team USA's Johnny Gaudreau No. 13 jersey, honoring the beloved player who died in August 2024 after being struck by an SUV while biking in New Jersey.

The Ripple Effect

Werenski's Olympic success has lifted an entire franchise. Since returning from the Games, he's recorded three assists in two games and extended his point streak to nine straight games, the longest by any defenseman in the team's 25-year history.

The 29-year-old has become a force this season, ranking second among all NHL defensemen with 65 points. In his last nine games alone, he's tallied 13 points and notched his 100th career multipoint game, becoming the fifth-fastest active defenseman to reach that milestone.

His performance matters for Columbus too. The Blue Jackets are pushing for a playoff spot, sitting just five points out of a wild card position with 24 games remaining.

Werenski had two more assists Saturday night, helping his team battle back to tie the game 3-3 before ultimately falling in overtime. Even in defeat, he showed the same competitive fire that brought gold home from Italy.

A week packed with Olympic glory, White House visits, and a State of the Union appearance hasn't dulled his edge. If anything, success has fueled him to play even better for the team and city that's celebrating him.