Gaudreau brothers to be honored by family, friends and their grieving hockey teammates at funeral

MEDIA, Pa. (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman are among the many mourners scheduled to attend the funeral service for John and Matthew Gaudreau, the siblings who died once they have been struck by a suspected drunken driver whereas using bicycles of their house state of New Jersey.

The memorial for the Gaudreau brothers was set for noon Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania. John, an All-Star for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets referred to as “Johnny Hockey,” and Matthew, who performed collegiate hockey alongside his brother at Boston School, died on the eve of their sister’s marriage ceremony.

Numerous members of the hockey group from Columbus to South Jersey to Boston School, the place the Gaudreaus performed, are anticipated to hitch household and mates for the funeral. John was 31, Matthew 29.

The brothers have been mourned throughout the sports activities world, together with Columbus, Ohio, the place Gaudreau signed a free-agent deal in 2022 with the small-market Blue Jackets over extra profitable free-agent presents from different groups, together with New Jersey. Followers and Blue Jackets gamers gathered final week for an emotional candlelight vigil and the same gathering was held in Calgary.

Columbus Blue Jackets normal supervisor Don Waddell stated your entire crew could be on the funeral. Bettman and former BC coach Jerry York have been additionally anticipated to be among the many many in attendance.

“The way in which they carried themselves round campus and the enjoyment that that they had every day across the guys, they have been actually enjoyable to be round,” Boston School affiliate coach Mike Ayres stated. “They have been each very, very proficient hockey gamers however they have been nice folks to be round and made the whole lot round them enjoyable.”

A GoFundMe for Matthew’s widow, Madeline, to help her and their child due in December, has surpassed $600,000, with donations from practically 9,000 folks pouring in, many from NHL gamers and their households.

“He didn’t make the thousands and thousands that Johnny did and doesn’t have the pension from the Gamers’ Affiliation,” stated Michael Myers of the ECHL’s Worcester Railers, for whom Matthew performed two seasons. “It’s essential that the hockey group acknowledges that and embraces that to assist Matthew’s household.”

The Gaudreau brothers have been biking on a highway in Oldmans Township about 8 p.m. on Aug. 29 when a person driving an SUV in the identical course tried to move two different automobiles and struck them from behind, in keeping with New Jersey State Police. They have been pronounced lifeless on the scene.

Police stated the driving force, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being inebriated and faces two counts of loss of life by auto, together with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motorcar. He has been jailed pending a Sept. 13 listening to.

The brothers have been celebrated on varied social media platforms since their deaths. Katie Gaudreau, the little sister who was to be married the day after the brothers have been killed, has posted footage of her household in happier occasions on social media.

Over the weekend, it was an Instgram video captioned “Birds for the Gauderau boys,” over a clip of John Gaudreau opening his winter coat to flash an Eagles jersey as he went by safety forward of an NHL recreation. She additionally posted a tribute to a household slideshow known as “That day” the place she wrote how she would “do something to inform my large brothers I really like them yet one more time.”

Devin Joyce, the anticipated groom and a collegiate hockey participant, wrote of his promise “to take the best possible care of your little sister.”

He added: “I do know I by no means stated it however I cherished you guys a lot. I’m so fortunate to have known as you two my brothers for so long as I did.”

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Whyno reported from Washington.

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