Every player was invited and the only requirement was that you had to dress to for the season, preferably in an ugly sweater. Some Jackets decided to take it to the next level. One player dressed as Santa and his wife dressed as an elf. Josh Anderson got into a full snowman costume.
But most players stuck close to the theme. Alex Wennberg and William Karlsson both had Christmas sweaters with designs that lit up, Hartnell wore a Blue Jackets-themed sweater, and many players picked garments adorned with Santa.
Just leave it to one of the newest Jackets to turn the theme on it's head.
"I have one of my normal sweaters and the guys tease me about it every day," Lukas Sedlak said. "The guys reminded me the ugly sweater party was coming up when I had it on, so I just wore it to the party."
Sedlak's joke was not lost on his teammates. While there were no prizes awarded for best sweater, Sedlak's burnt orange selection was quick to be mentioned as one of the most memorable of the night.
Their teammates will enjoy a few days off to be with their families come Christmas time, but the opportunity to celebrate the season first with one another, and laugh over some ugly sweaters, is one that is special for them all.
"It's most important for me," Sedlak said. "I don't have my family here and I can't go home because we have just three days. It's really nice to gather together with the guys. It's basically my second family. I enjoy it."
With the memories of the ugly sweater party still fresh in their minds, we asked some Blue Jackets what other memories and wishes they have for the holiday season.
What is your favorite Christmas memory?
Scott Hartnell: The meal! Turkey with all the fixings. And for the gifts, as the youngest sibling, I was always one of the first to wake up. I'd rifle under the tree and put everyone's presents in their spot on the couch where they were sitting and then we'd go around and take turns opening presents - that was fun.
Nick Foligno:My dad was playing hockey professionally and my brother and I were playing as kids, so we were always hustling that time of year. (For us) it was a special time to just be together as a family. We cherished those moments.
Lukas Sedlak:Meeting with the family - we have big family that is pretty close, so we went to see my grandparents in two different cities. We'd gather together and sing Christmas carols. It was nice memories.
Sam Gagner:When I was about 10 or 11, I got my first one-piece stick. We had a rink in our backyard and I was able to go out there and play all day with it.
Favorite Christmas Gift when you were younger:
Josh Anderson:I got my first real hockey net when I was 9. It was regulation size, metal and aluminum. I still have it.
Zach Werenski:Every year when I was a kid my brother and I would get a new hockey stick, so every Christmas morning we would run down and look to see which one we got. They were always hidden behind the tree and the other gifts.
Which teammate would you want to get a gift from this Christmas?
Brandon Dubinsky:I would have to say Hartsy (Scott Hartnell), because he buys good stuff.
Matt Calvert:Cam Atkinson. He has a good eye and good taste. Plus, he wouldn't buy anything cheap.
Boone Jenner:Jonesy (Seth Jones). He knows me pretty well and, besides, he just signed his big contract extension last summer.
