Tragic death of NHL star and brother leaves family, friends and fans with unspeakable grief

By John Knebels

(OSV News) — No words.

As family, friends, teammates, coaches, media, acquaintances and even strangers grappled with the devastating tragedy that took the lives of National Hockey League star Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, on Aug. 29, there was no way to describe the loss that tore apart the fabric of a popular, beloved family with deep Catholic roots.

According to New Jersey State Police, the two brothers were riding bicycles on a rural road near their hometown in Salem County, New Jersey, around 8 p.m. when a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a drunk driver, identified as Sean Higgins, struck them from behind. After both brothers succumbed to their injuries, Higgins was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide. The investigation is ongoing.

The brothers were faithful students and athletes at Gloucester Catholic High School in the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey. Their legacy has been described by family and friends as kind, thoughtful, humble, faithful, passionate and grateful.

To add to the unspeakable grief, the brothers were scheduled to be groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding the following afternoon. Instead, the Gaudreau family was trying to make sense of the nightmare of losing Johnny, a married father of a 23-month-old daughter, Noa, and a 6-month-old son, Johnny; and Matthew, whose wife of three years, Madeline, is due to give birth to their first child in December.

Johnny’s wife Meredith somehow found strength and posted a heartbreaking, yet palpably poignant message on the social media platform Instagram.

“Thank you for the best years of my life,” she said. “Even though I lost you, I’m still the luckiest girl in the world to have had you… You’re mine forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much, forever and ever.”

She called Johnny “the best dad in the world. So caring and loving… the best partner to get through parenthood with. John never missed an appointment. Was the best at putting the baby to sleep.”

Johnny and Matthew both played collegiate hockey at Boston College, a Catholic Jesuit university. After his sophomore year, Johnny passed up the opportunity to go pro because he wanted to play with Matthew, who was about to become a freshman at BC.

In an official statement, Boston College Athletics and the men’s hockey program called the brothers “shining stars on and off the ice for the Eagles.” They went on to detail a number of on-ice accomplishments, highlighted by Johnny’s significant contributions to Boston College’s 2012 national championship team and his naming as the NCAA Player of the Year in 2014.

“I am devastated and saddened by the news of the passing of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau,” said former Boston College head coach Jerry York. “They were not only great hockey players, but two outstanding young men. They represented their families and Boston College with the highest caliber.”

Current coach Greg Brown agreed.

“No words can express our sadness at this time,” Brown said. “Johnny and Matty Gaudreau were first-rate members of the Boston College community and left an indelible legacy on our program. We will remember the smiles and joy they brought to everyone in their lives. We are saddened by the Gaudreau family. We will miss them terribly.”

Although Matthew competed professionally and later became involved in coaching at his high school alma mater for the past two years, he never played in the NHL. Johnny, however, played 11 seasons in the NHL — nine with the Calgary Flames and, wanting to be closer to home, the last two with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

An immensely rich NHL resume includes being named to the All-Star team seven times. In addition to scoring a goal on his first NHL shot late in the 2013-14 season and being named a finalist for NHL Rookie of the Year in 2014-15, Gaudreau took home the prestigious Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2016-17. The award is given to a player who is “judged to have displayed the highest standard of sportsmanship and courtesy coupled with a high standard of playing ability.”

Mary Boyle, former superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Camden from 2004 to 2019, described the Gaudreau clan as “devoted Catholic people.” One of the brothers’ late grandfathers, John “Guy” Gaudreau, spent much of his time volunteering at St. Edward Parish in Derby Line, Vermont. Their mother, Jane, and sister Kristen Venello were employed by St. John of God Community Services, a nonprofit organization for people with special needs. In addition to their mother and sisters, the brothers are survived by their father, Gus.

“I had just seen the family at the end of July,” Boyle said, referring to the eighth annual Johnny Gaudreau Golf Fundraiser benefiting Gloucester Catholic High School. “It’s unbelievable. They’re great people. The tragedy of two boys in one family dying doing something as innocent as riding a bike … and the fact that it’s the night before their sister’s wedding just makes it more tragic.”

A decision has yet to be made about the funeral.