The Columbus Blue Jackets and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman are among the mourners planning to attend the funeral of brother and sister John and Matthew Gaudreau, who were killed by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bicycles in their hometown of New Jersey.
A memorial service for the Gaudreau brothers was scheduled for noon Monday at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania.
John, known affectionately as “Johnny Hockey,” an all-star player for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, and Matthew, who played college hockey with his brother at Boston University, died the night before his sister's wedding.
Countless hockey fans from around the world, from Columbus to South Jersey to Boston University, where the Gaudreau family played, are expected to attend the funeral, along with family and friends. John was 31 and Matthew was 29.
The brothers' deaths are being mourned across the sports world, including in Columbus, Ohio, where Gaudreau signed a free-agent contract with the small-market Blue Jackets in 2022, spurning more lucrative free-agent offers from other teams, including New Jersey.
Fans and Blue Jackets players came together for an emotional candlelight vigil last week, and a similar vigil was held in Calgary.
Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said the entire team will attend the funeral, with Bettman and former BC coach Jerry York expected to be among the large group of mourners.
“The way they carried themselves on campus and the fun they had with their peers every day made them really fun to be around,” Boston College assistant coach Mike Ayers said.
“They were both extremely talented hockey players, but they also had fun personalities and made everything around them fun.”
A GoFundMe set up to support Matthew's widow, Madeline, and their baby, due in December, has raised more than $600,000, with about 9,000 donations from people, mostly NHL players and their families.
“He's not making millions of dollars like Johnny, and he's not getting a pension from the players' association,” said Michael Myers of the ECHL's Worcester Railers, where Matthew played two seasons.
“It's important that the hockey community recognizes that and embraces it to help Matthew's family.”
According to New Jersey State Police, the Gaudreau brothers were riding their bicycles on a road in Oldmans Township around 8 p.m. on August 29 when a man driving an SUV coming from the same direction struck them from behind while attempting to pass two other vehicles.
They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the driver, Shawn M. Higgins, 43, was suspected of being drunk and will be charged with two counts of causing death by motor vehicle, reckless driving, possession of an open container and having alcohol in a vehicle.
He remains in custody until a hearing on September 13th.
The brothers have been celebrated across various social media platforms since their passing.
His sister, Katie Gaudreau, who was scheduled to be married the day after his brother was killed, posted photos on social media of the family in happier times.
Over the weekend, an Instagram video with the caption “A bird for Gaudreau brother” was played over footage of John Gaudreau opening his winter coat to reveal an Eagles jersey at an NHL pre-game security check.
She also posted a tribute to her family's slideshow called “That Day,” writing, “I would do anything to tell my brothers I love them one more time.”
Her groom-to-be, Devin Joyce, a college hockey player, wrote that he promised to “take the absolute best care of your sister.”
He added: “I've never said it, but I love you both so much and I've been so lucky to call you both my brothers for so long.”
