The funeral for John and Matthew Gaudreau has been scheduled for Monday at a church in suburban Philadelphia, and the driver charged with killing them remains in jail awaiting his next court appearance. The memorial service for the Gaudreau brothers is set to take place at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania. The Columbus Blue Jackets, for whom John Gaudreau played and was known around the sport as “Johnny Hockey,” said the team will stream the service on its website.
The Gaudreau brothers died last week when they were struck and killed by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding their bicycles in their home state of New Jersey on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding. The driver, Sean M. Higgins, appeared virtually at his first pretrial hearing Thursday. The judge postponed the hearing to Sept. 13 to allow attorneys more time to prepare. Higgins, 43, is being held at a Salem County jail. He is charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. Attorneys Matthew Portella and Richard Klineburger III said Higgins had hired them to represent him.
Countless members of the hockey community from Columbus to South Jersey to Boston College, where the Gaudreaus played, are expected to join family and friends for the funeral. Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said the entire team would be there, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is also planning to be in attendance. Fans and current and former players paid tribute to John and Matthew in candlelight vigils in Columbus, Ohio, and Calgary, Alberta, on Wednesday night. There was a 13-minute, 21-second silent remembrance outside the Blue Jackets’ downtown arena while a slideshow played of photos showing the siblings from childhood, through their teenage years and into college hockey, the pros, marriages, baptisms and lives filled with joy and love.
Fans and current and former players paid tribute to John and Matthew in candlelight vigils in Columbus, Ohio, and Calgary, Alberta, on Wednesday night. There was a 13-minute, 21-second silent remembrance outside the Blue Jackets’ downtown arena while a slideshow played of photos showing the siblings from childhood, through their teenage years and into college hockey, the pros, marriages, baptisms and lives filled with joy and love.
Lewis Gross, the brothers’ longtime agent, said Thursday it had taken him some time to write about what the 15 years representing them meant to him, including becoming part of the extended Gaudreau family. Obits published on Thursday directed contributions to the John & Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, care of Gross at Sports Professional Management in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Kevin Stevens, one of the inductees, played at BC three decades before John and Matthew. USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher opened remarks about the 2024 class of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame with continued thoughts and prayers for the Gaudreau family.
The loss of John and Matthew Gaudreau has deeply impacted the hockey community and beyond. The upcoming funeral and legal proceedings serve as a stark reminder of the tragedy that has unfolded. The support and tributes pouring in from fans, players, and community members highlight the impact that these two young men had on those around them. As the community mourns their loss, their legacy and the foundation established in their honor will serve as a lasting tribute to their lives and the impact they had on those around them.
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