Columbus Blue Jackets Facts

The Blue Jackets are a young team, founded as anBlue Jacket cannon has been fired at the start of all
expansion team in 2000 and not qualifying for thehome games. The cannon will also salute each time
Stanley Cup Playoffs until 2009. When the Clevelandthe team scores a home goal and when the home
Barons left Ohio in 1978, no one knew that it wouldteam wins a game. During its inaugural season, it was
take 22 years before the state would host anotherfired no less than 164 times.
NHL team. On June 25, 1997, the NHL announced thatThe cannon has become an integral part of Blue
Columbus would receive a new franchise; a decisionJacket fan culture. The cannon is loaded with smoke
prompted by the May 31 announcement fromflash charges and the loud boom is produced by a
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company that they would.75oz concussion explosive placed above the rink.
foot the bill for a new $150-million arena in Columbus.When the cannon is fired, the accompanying music
The name and logo of the Blue Jackets are rooted in"For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) by AC
Ohio's rich Civil War history and was choose toDC can be heard throughout the arena.
celebrate patriotism, pride and the rich Civil War historyAs mentioned above, the Blue Jackets secured their
in the state of Ohio. When President Abraham Lincolnfirst Stanley Cup Playoff berth ever in 2009 by
asked Ohio to raise ten regiments at the outbreak ofdefeating the Chicago Blackhawks with 4-3 on April 8.
the Civil War, the Ohio residents responded by formingThe team had made several advantageous trades
no less than 23 volunteer infantry regiments.during the 2008 off season, including getting Raffi
The team logo is a stylized version of the flag of OhioTorres in exchange for Gilbert Brule and trading Nikolai
swirled around a start while the sweaters sport a CivilZherdey and Dan Fritsche to the New York Rangers
War cap with crossed hockey sticks. The official teamin exchange for Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman.
mascot is a 6 foot 9 inch bright green bug namedDuring the 2008-09 NHL season Jason Williams was
Stinger that can be seen walking among thereceived in exchange for Clay Wilson and a
spectators during the games and skating around onsixth-round draft pick. The team also became a part
the ice between periods wearing a team jersey.of the first major deal of the 2009 NHL Trade
At the request of the fans, the Blue JacketsDeadline by receiving Antoine Vermette from the
organization purchased a hand-made replica of anOttawa Senators in exchange for Pascal Leclaire and
1867 Napoleon cannon and placed it in the Nationwidea second-round draft pick.
Arena as the 2007-08 season begun. Since then, the