Climbing to the Stars

Some people cannot relate to the saying “too good to be true.” Meredith Gaudreau, however, decided she realized the true meaning of that phrase in the aftermath of losing her husband, John “Johnny” Gaudreau. “Thank you for the best years of my life. Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours. I love you so so much. You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true,” read Meredith Gaudreau’s Instagram caption in a remembrance post for Johnny Gaudreau. 

In Oldmans Township, New Jersey, two hockey-loving brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were killed on August 29, when they were hit on their bicycles by a drunk driver attempting to pass two other vehicles. In their home state, Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were on an evening bike ride, planning to be groomsmen at their sister Katie Gaudreau’s wedding the next day, when tragedy struck. Pronounced dead at the scene, NHL star Johnny Gaudreau left behind his pregnant wife and two young children, while Matthew Gaudreau also left behind his loving wife Madaline Gadreau and their unborn child. The driver, Sean Higgins, admitted to drinking prior to driving that night and was charged with two accounts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of open container, and consuming alcohol in a vehicle. Higgins was thereby detained until his pre-trial detention hearing on September 5. During the hearing, however, his detention in the Salem County Jail was extended until at least September 13. In light of this event, we are forced to reflect on how incredibly saddening it is that the reckless behavior of a single individual can have such catastrophic consequences. We are only beginning to see how the lives of the Gaudreau family have been torn apart: both Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau’s lives were cut short before they could even meet their unborn children. Matthew Gaudreau never got to experience the joy of expanding his family, while Johnny left behind two kids, and as his wife revealed in her eulogy on September 9, another unborn child. Despite Meredith Gaudreau’s crushing sadness, she was able to reflect on the moment Johnny learned he was having another child. “His reaction was just immediately kissing me and hugging me,” she said. “How lucky am I to be the mother of John’s three babies, our last one being a blessing and so special despite these difficult circumstances.” The world will continue to grapple with this heartache as we grieve for these babies who will grow up fatherless, for the devoted wives, and, most of all, for the brothers themselves. Katie Gaudreau and her groom-to-be also expressed solidarity and emotion, postponing their wedding to an undecided date. 

The loss of the Gaudreau brothers is not only being experienced by their immediate family, however, but also their extended family—the hockey community. Both brothers poured years of their lives into the sport, and now the love they gave is being reciprocated, but they aren’t here to receive it. Johnny Gaudreau was an icon better known as “Johnny Hockey,” earning the nickname by playing 10 seasons in the NHL and scoring 743 points in 763 regular season games. Thriving in the NHL since being picked by the Calgary Flames in the 2011 entry draft, Johnny Gaudreau was planning to begin his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, having just signed a seven-year, $68 million contract with them in 2022. During his eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, Johnny Gaudreau quickly became a fan favorite throughout North America, winning gold with USA in the 2013 IIHF World Junior Tournament. Matthew Gaudreau was also a hockey player who spent seven years in the minor leagues after playing at Boston College with Johnny Gaudreau. The two brothers celebrated Johnny Gaudreau’s Hobey Baker Award for the top college player in the country together during the 2014 season, when they both played for Boston College. In honor of the hockey brothers, the Blue Jackets held a candlelight vigil on September 4 at Nationwide Arena. The ceremony consisted of 13 minutes and 21 seconds of silence to reflect the jersey numbers of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau, respectively. Only in the wake of their death is it clear just how many people they unknowingly touched, as strangers continue to leave flowers at multiple arenas in their honor. While it is difficult to see any possible good during these seasons of grief, it is apparent that this loss has unified the hockey community and can be used to develop a deeper appreciation for those around us. Our heroes today can be history tomorrow. 

The hockey community will continue to grieve, especially Johnny Gaudreau’s community in Columbus. “While there is a huge hole in our lineup, there’s a bigger hole in our hearts,” Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell said. The loss of such an amazing player isn’t alleviated, either, by how wholesome Johnny Gaudreau was. His teammates fondly remember him as the ideal man both on and off the ice as he won the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct in 2017. Johnny Gaudreau lived up to this title, making it clear that his contribution to the game of hockey cannot be understated. He delivered six 20-plus goal games and became a 115-point player in 2021-2022 as a first-time NHL all-star, setting a personal record with 40 goals and 75 assists. Accounts from former teammates also show the true love Johnny Gaudreau had for both individuals and his sport. Flames’ Blake Coleman said he was “completely gutted. The world just lost one of the best.” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also said, “While Johnny’s infectious spirit for the game and show-stopping skills on the ice earned him the nickname ‘Johnny Hockey,’ he was more than just a dazzling hockey player; he was a doting father and beloved husband, son, brother, and teammate who endeared himself to every person fortunate enough to have crossed his path.” The love people have for Johnny Gaudreau is beginning to reflect his permanent absence, as people like Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield ensure that his name will forever resonate. Caufield announced he will be changing his jersey number to Johnny Gaudreau’s old number, 13, in his honor. Thus, while the two will never be teammates again, nor have the chance to compete together at the 2024 IIHF World Championships, Caufield will still get to compete with number 13, ensuring Johnny Gaudreau’s legacy continues to grace the ice.

The radius in which the loss of the Gaudreau brothers is felt doesn’t stop with the hockey family, however. Social media continues to be flooded with both support for the Gaudreau family and heartbroken comments from fans. Star basketball player LeBron James commented, saying, “My thoughts and prayers go out to the Gaudreau family. May Johnny and Matthew fly high, guard, and bless their family from the heavens above.” In response to such comments, the Gaudreau family released the following statement on August 30, officially expressing their grief and gratitude for the overwhelming support. “Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers, two sons and brothers in law, two nephews, two cousins, two family members, two teammates, two friends but truly two amazing human beings. We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers.” The Gaudreaus’ overwhelming grief is felt by many, and thus the Blue Jackets encourage us to honor the brothers’ memory together, rather than coping with the pain in isolation. Offering their support and emphasizing solidarity, the Blue Jackets said, “We will miss him terribly and do everything that we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy.”