Tribute mural painted in front of Nationwide Arena in Columbus Ohio. photo by Craig Merz
Brothers and professional hockey players were killed in a tragic accident the night before their sister’s wedding.
On the morning of Friday, August 25th, the hockey community was shocked to learn of the devastating deaths of NHL (National Hockey League) player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, AHL (American Hockey League) player Matthew Gaudreau. Both brothers were not only fantastic hockey players but family members as well. This horrific news has caused the sports community to come together and build memorials in and around many hockey arenas in North America. As many mourn their passing, they send their prayers and thoughts to the Gaudreau family.
Johnny Gaudreau was beloved among avid hockey fans, and left his mark on the hockey community. Hockey fans from all over North America came together to mourn the loss of a generational talent. Johnny started his career in Calgary, playing for the Calgary Flames. As a Flame, he had an amazing nine year career. He was admitted to the NHL All-Rookie Team in the 2014-2015 season and made an All Star appearance during the 2021-2022 season. During his time with the Flames, Gaudreau won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, a signifier of the sportsmanship that he has displayed throughout his career. Johnny was well known for his sportsmanship and how he played the game. After his stint with the Flames, Johnny signed a 7-year, almost $69 million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played two years for the Blue Jackets before the accident. Johnny’s younger brother Matthew followed in his footsteps, playing professional hockey and having a four year career playing for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Worcester Railers, Stockton Heat, Reading Royals and even playing a year in Sweden. The two brothers had amazing careers that were cut short when their lives were taken.
The night of the 25th, Johnny and Matthew were riding bikes in Salem County, New Jersey when they were struck and killed by an impaired driver. The two New Jersey natives were preparing to be groomsmen in their sister’s wedding the very next day. Tributes were seen all over the world the next few days as multiple sports teams held moments of silence for the brothers. Ryan S. Clark of ESPN reported on the tragedy, stating, “Tributes reverberated near and far, with moments of silence occurring in Cincinnati before a Major League Baseball game between the Reds and Brewers and prior to an Olympic qualifying hockey game between Slovakia and Hungary in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava.” Many are keeping the Geaudrau brothers’ memory alive with memorials planted in front of Nationwide Arena in Columbus Ohio and at the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary. Both teams had flowers lining the walls outside the arenas. Many players and teammates went to the funeral service for the brothers in Pennsylvania, and the family spoke out about the loss for the first time. The Gaudreau family asked for continued respect and privacy after the memorial and thanked the hockey and sports community for the continued support and prayers. Johnny Gaudreau was also a father to two children. After his death, his wife Meredith Gaudreau told the media that they were expecting a third child. The family has not spoken since then, but fans continue to build memorials and honor the Gaudreau name. The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that a memorial and moment of silence will be held before their first home game. Each player on the team will wear a patch honoring the brothers, and fans in attendance will receive a replica patch as well. The league and players will have moments of silence throughout various games, and will continue to pay tribute to the brothers taken from this world too early.
