August 30, 2024 by Ryan Lotsberg

The hockey world woke up to devastating news on Friday morning. Brothers Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau have passed away. They were reportedly struck by a drunk driver while riding their bikes in Salem County, New Jersey on Thursday evening.

Johnny Gaudreau got 743 points in 763 NHL games over eleven seasons with the Calgary Flames and the Columbus Blue Jackets. 602 of those games came as a member of the Flames organization. “Johnny Hockey” won the Hobey Baker Award while playing for the Boston College Eagles in 2014, which was one of his three seasons there. He also played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL in 2010-11. Johnny Gaurdeau was 31 years old.

Johnny Gaudreau was a four-time NHL All-Star and a Lady Byng Trophy winner. He also made the NHL All-Rookie team in 2014-15. His best season came in 2021-22 when he put up 115 points in 82 games and led the Flames to the second round of the 2024 playoffs. He scored the game and series winning goal in overtime of Game 7 of the first round against the Dallas Stars in 2022, which was the biggest goal of his career.

He scored the most goals in the tournament (7) en route to winning gold in the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also won silver at the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament, and he played in four IIHF Men’s World Championships.

He was a decorated collegiate player. In addition to the Hobey Baker Award, Johnny Gaudreau won the USA College Hockey Player of the Year award and was a First Team All-American in 2014. He also won a National Championship in 2012.

“Johnny Hockey” was a rare talent. He was truly so much fun to watch. He was a small player at just 5’9” and 163 lbs, but the talent of the 2011 fourth round pick was far larger. Johnny Gaudreau was always dangerous with the puck on his stick. You just knew something was going to happen when he had the puck. His speed, agility, and ability to hold onto the puck for as long as he wanted to have it made him a constant scoring threat. 

Columbus Blue Jackets statement on the passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew. pic.twitter.com/V2aFykgKIs

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 30, 2024

Matthew Gaudreau was also a professional hockey player. He recorded five points in 21 AHL games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the Stockton Heat from 2017-2020. He also got 100 points in 127 ECHL games with the Worcester Railers and the Reading Royals from 2017-2022. Matthew Gaudreau also played at Boston College. He amassed 63 points in 119 games in four years for the Eagles. He also played 106 games with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, where he got 40 points. He would go on to be an assistant coach with the NAHL’s Philadelphia Rebels for two years, and he also coached the Gloucester Catholic High School hockey team. Matthew Gaudreau was 29 years old.

Johnny Gaudreau leaves behind his wife Meredith and his two young children, daughter Noa and son Johnny. Matthew Gaudreau leaves behind his wife, Madeline. She is expecting the couple’s first child. The parents of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau are Guy and Jane Gaudreau. Johnny and Matthew also had two sisters, Katie and Kristen Gaudreau. Katie was scheduled to be married on Friday, and her brothers were supposed to be groomsmen.

I can’t adequately put into words how tragic this news is. First and foremost, my sincerest condolences go out to the entire Gaudreau family. The lives of two young men were unnecessarily and cruelly cut short. Two children lost a father. Two wives wife lost their husbands. Two sisters lost their brothers. Two parents lost their two sons. Those are unimaginable pains to have to endure.

My heart also goes out to their friends, teammates, and coworkers as well as fans of their respective former teams. It doesn’t matter what team you cheer for on a day like this. All hockey fans feel this loss.

Tragedies like this put life into perspective. Life is so fickle and fragile. One moment can change everything, for better or for worse. Nobody has control over it. No matter how much we try to gain control, we simply don’t have control over life. 

What we can control is our actions. Hug your loved ones and let them know they’re loved because you never know which hug will be the last. Stop putting things off because the time might never come for those things to happen. Life is meant to be lived, so do it while you have the chance.

Rest in peace, Johnny and Matthew.