How Nationwide Arena and the surrounding Arena District have grown into a thriving area is impressive considering how things began for the Blue Jackets when Dave King, Kevin Dineen, Ron Tugnutt, Rostislav Klesla and Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre were all part of Columbus’ first NHL team a quarter century ago.
Grand-Pierre, now a FanDuel Sports Network studio analyst, lives in the area, but the rest have kept their eyes on the Jackets from afar. Their return Oct. 18 for the first of five Blue Jackets 25th Anniversary celebration games gave each a chance to see what they helped start in 2000-01.
King, the first head coach in franchise history, attended the Blue Jackets’ 4-1 loss Oct. 16 and was impressed by the makeup of the crowd at Nationwide Arena. Dineen was thrilled to walk his family around to see how the area has changed, and Klesla spent a week in town visiting with former teammates.
All four players were honored on the ice during a pregame ceremony prior to Blue Jackets hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning, and King fired off the cannon before the first draw.
“It’s a beautiful facility,” King said. “Boy, the energy in the building is immense, and I was really impressed. … It was a very good crowd, very energetic, and I was just impressed with how many kids were there. I saw families that last game and I was impressed because you’re growing the game still. Even after 25 years, you’re trying to grow your base and get stronger at it, and that’s important stuff.”
Dineen was happy to attend after having to turn down prior invitations due to obligations as a coach elsewhere.
“This one’s a little special for me,” he said. “My kids were old enough to watch me play (for the Blue Jackets). I was not a young buck. I was 36 when I came here. I definitely had some maturity to me, so it was a great experience for myself and my family.”
Tugnutt spoke about his popularity during his time in Columbus, which included a tongue-in-cheek campaign during the run-up to the 2000 U.S. presidential election. He got 11 write-ins, even as a Canadian who wasn’t eligible to run. A campaign video was shown during a stoppage in the first period against the Lightning, followed by an ovation for Tugnutt as he held a campaign T-shirt.
“I’d always been the guy who leads a team onto the ice, but it was something where I was trying to help people (grow in Columbus),” Tugnutt said. “It was a complete transformation for me, coming here. I was going to be more of a team guy and be a part of getting this franchise off the ground.”
Klesla, the team’s first draft pick (fourth overall in 2000) spent the first 10 of his 13 NHL seasons in Columbus. He was eager to return for the Jackets’ silver anniversary celebration.
“I’ve been here eight days now,” Klesla said “I’ve had a chance to see some of the guys, and it’s very cool to see some of these guys, especially from the first year or two years (on) the original teams. I’m very glad I’m here, and it’s good to see these guys and chat with them and see they’re doing good.”
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets alums honored to return for 25th anniversary celebration
Reporting by Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
