Hockey fans Jackson Henderson and his mom Deb Tetley pay their respects to former Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew at a memorial on the steps at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Aug. 31, in Calgary.Leah Hennel/Getty Images
The sister of hockey players Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau paid tribute on Monday to her two brothers, who were struck and killed by a driver on the eve of her wedding.
In an Instagram post with photos of the close-knit family, Katie Gaudreau remembered “the absolute best big brothers a little girl could have asked for.”
“To know these two was to love these two,” she wrote. “There are absolutely no words I have to express the bond my family shared.”
Ms. Gaudreau went on to describe how much the brothers inspired one another. “The entire world knows there would never have been a John without Matty or Matty without John.”
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were cycling near their New Jersey hometown when they were struck by a driver who later failed a sobriety test, police said. The next day, they were supposed to fulfill groomsmen duties at Ms. Gaudreau’s wedding.
“This will never be a goodbye post because I will never stop saying your names and honouring you both,” Ms. Gaudreau wrote. She ended the tribute by promising to take care of the loved ones the two left behind, including their parents, Jane and Guy Gaudreau, the brothers’ wives, Madeline and Meredith, and Johnny’s young children – two-year-old Noa and seven-month-old Johnny.
Johnny Gaudreau’s unusual superstardom was a testament to humble beginnings
The eldest Gaudreau brother, also known as “Johnny Hockey,” was a renowned athlete who helped the Calgary Flames reach their first playoff season in years, scoring nine points in 11 games. In 2022, he signed a seven-year US$68.25-million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets and played with them until his death.
Throughout his 11 seasons in the NHL, he helped his teams take home multiple trophies, was selected to play in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game and scored 100 points in one season.
For his 2016-2017 season, he was awarded a trophy for skills, sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct.
The younger Gaudreau brother, Matthew, was also well-entrenched in the hockey community and a notable athlete in his own right. He played in the AHL and coached the Gloucester Catholic hockey team.
On Saturday, Matthew’s wife Madeline Gaudreau, who is pregnant with their first child, wrote about her loss and the brothers’ one-of-a-kind bond in an Instagram post.
“It was always Matty & John,” she wrote. “I can’t even put into words the bond these two had and right now I don’t have the strength.”
The widow of Johnny Gaudreau called her late husband “the absolute best dad in the world” and thanked him for “the best years” of her life in two Instagram posts.
“Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours,” Meredith Gaudreau captioned a post with photos of the couple and their two children. “I love you so, so much.”
“You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much forever and ever.”
New Jersey State Police said the driver was charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.