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The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional Ice Hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio . They play in the National Hockey League (NHL). FACTS :Founded: 2000 (awarded June 25 , 1997 ) :Arena: Nationwide Arena :Uniform colors: Blue and red :Logo design: A starry ribbon forming the letters "CB" surrounding a hockey stick (which also forms the letter "J") surmounted by a star. :Mascot: Stinger : Stanley Cup s won: ''none'' 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. 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.
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 she was in the stands watching the Blue Jackets play the Calgary Flames in Nationwide Arena . 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. The team has never made the playoffs in its short history, but it has a core of young players who could change that in the near future, led by 2002 first-overall draft pick Rick Nash . Nash scored 41 goals in 2003-04 to earn a share of the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy . Prior to the 2005-2006 season, the Blue Jackets signed former Colorado Avalanche Defensemen Adam Foote to a three year deal worth $13.5 million dollars. The team struggled again in the first half of the 2005-06 season, in part because of injuries to key players including Nash, 2000 first round pick Rostislav Klesla , and 2005 first round pick Gilbert Brule , who have each had two stints on the Injured Reserve list. In all, 11 players had made a total of 15 trips to the IR through the NHL's Christmas break. The Blue Jackets improved in December and January, due in no small part to Rick Nash making a return off injured reserve on December 18. At the end of January they stood 14-12-0 at home, 8 wins in their last 11 games, and finishing 1st in the NHL for power play efficiency for that month. SEASON-BY-SEASON RECORD ''Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes'' As of April 18 , 2006 :1 Season was cancelled due to the 2004-05 NHL Lockout . NOTABLE PLAYERS Current squad ''As of April 20 , 2006 '' {Link without Title} Hall Of Famers ''none'' Team captains
Retired numbers
Franchise scoring leaders These are the top-ten point-scorers in the history of the Blue Jackets. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season. ''Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points'' SEE ALSO
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