Family and Friends Mourn, Say Goodbye to Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau

Just west of Philadelphia in Media, PA, family and friends gathered for a memorial service to say goodbye to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were killed by an alleged drunk driver while they rode their bicycles on a rural road near their childhood home in Salem County, New Jersey Aug. 29.

Their sister Katie was to be married the following day. She postponed her wedding in the wake of the tragedy.

The driver of the SUV, Sean Higgins, who struck and killed the brothers, remains behind bars in New Jersey on charges of driving under the influence, two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, and other charges related to having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. Higgins will remain in jail until a detention hearing on Sept. 13.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, was an All-Star winger with the Calgary Flames, then the Columbus Blue Jackets. Matthew was also a professional hockey player who played primarily at the ECHL level.

Johnny’s survivors include his wife and two small children. However, his wife, Meredith, announced Monday that she is expecting the couple’s third child.

Matthew’s wife, Madelaine, is also expecting.

The heartbreaking service was streamed live on the Blue Jackets website. Many players, including former teammates Patrik Laine and Sean Monahan, were in attendance. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and former Calgary Flames GM Brian Burke were also present.

Meredith paid special tribute to Monahan and current Pittsburgh Penguins center Kevin Hayes as Gaudreaus’s closest friends.

“John would always show me the sentimental and hilarious reels on Instagram that you would send him on Instagram about brotherhood because he was so honored by them,” Meredith said of Hayes. “You’ve been through so much, and you were never not there for him. You are a great, great person to your core. John loved you so much.”

Hayes and Gaudreau were teammates at Boston College. Gaudreau played for eight-plus seasons with Monahan in Calgary.

“I know John is cringing at me right now, but you made John the most excited for hockey that I’ve ever seen when you signed in Columbus … I’m rooting for you every night on the ice, and I know John is, too, as your special guardian angel,” Meredith Gaudreau said.

The brother’s caskets sat side by side in the emotional ceremony. A symbolic gesture of the close-knit brothers who frequently spent time together and often mentioned each other.

“John took care of Matty, and Matty would take care of John,” said Madelaine. “You do not hear one name without the other. They were so extremely proud of each other.”

Hockey fans also mourned the brothers with vigils held outside the Saddle Dome in Calgary and Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Friends set up a GoFundMe for Madelaine and the couple’s baby, who is due in December. The fund has far surpassed its $50,000 goal and has exceeded $600,000 with over 9,000 contributors.