Funeral details of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau announced as family and NHL community rally to mourn loss
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Plans have been made to honor the lives of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau following their tragic deaths last week.
Funeral services for Johnny and Matthew have been scheduled for Monday, September 9, at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, a suburb of Philadelphia. The service will be attended by friends, family, and members of the hockey community who wish to pay their respects.
The Columbus Blue Jackets — Johnny's final team — announced that they would stream the service live on their website for those unable to attend in person.
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau death: The tragedy and legal proceedings
Johnny Gaudreau — affectionately known as 'Johnny Hockey' — and his brother Matthew were tragically killed last Thursday evening by a suspected drunk driver while they were out riding their bikes. The tragedy befell just a day before their sister Katie's wedding.
The driver was identified as US Army veteran Sean Higgins. He has been charged with two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of an open container, and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. The 43-year-old remains in jail in Salem County, New Jersey, awaiting his next court appearance scheduled on September 13.
Higgins’ attorneys Matthew Portella and Richard Klineburger III spoke of the deep impact the case has had on people.
"This is a tragedy involving a great deal of emotion and impacting many individuals. It is too early in the stages of the legal process to make any out-of-court statements," they said.
The loss of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau has sparked an outpouring of grief and support from across North America. Fans, teammates, and friends from places like Columbus, Calgary, South Jersey, and Boston College — where both brothers attended university — are expected to attend the funeral.
Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell mentioned that the entire team would be present at the service, and even NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to attend.
In a show of solidarity, candlelight vigils were held in both Columbus, Ohio, and Calgary, Alberta on Wednesday night. In Columbus, the vigil was marked by a 13-minute and 21-second moment of silence, corresponding to Johnny and Matthew’s jersey numbers.
It also featured a slideshow of photos that recounted the brothers' lives - from their early childhood and teenage years to their college hockey days, professional careers, marriages, et al.
Meanwhile, outside the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary — where Johnny was a fan favorite — thousands gathered as bagpipes played a somber tune in his honor. Johnny had been selected 104th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2011 NHL draft, the Daily Mail reported.
Tributes and remembrances for Gaudreau brothers
The brothers’ agent Lewis Gross, who represented them for the past 15 years, reflected on his long-standing relationship with Johnny and Matthew.
"The hockey might be over, but my commitment to John and Matt will last throughout my life," Gross posted on social media. "These boys taught me so much. They taught me what family really means."
Tributes have also poured in from NHL legends, including Jaromir Jagr, and Johnny’s wife, Meredith, who have all voiced their sorrow and shared memories of the brothers. Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield announced that he would be changing his jersey number from 22 to 13 in honor of Johnny Gaudreau.
A GoFundMe page has been created to support Matthew Gaudreau’s wife, Madeline, who is currently pregnant with their child. The initial goal of $30,000 was quickly surpassed, with donations exceeding $627,000 at the time of publication.
