It has been exactly seven days since the hockey and sports worlds have rocked by the sudden passings of brothers Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau in their New Jersey hometown. This has been the seven longest days of 2024, and with it the saddest ones at that. The outpours of responses and tributes from the Fifth Line and the C of Red have not gone unnoticed. Funds for the younger Gaudreau widow has continued to grow by the day.
The last seven days has seen both Calgary and Columbus ownership, media, players, and legends come forward to mourn and honor the pure American family. Captains Mikael Backlund and Boone Jenner. Leadership in Zach Werenski and Sean Kuraly. Kids in Cole Sillinger who grew up in Johnny Hockey’s young playing years in Alberta. Legends in Lanny McDonald, Craig Conroy, and Don Waddell.
LeBron James and Mike Trout even took time to post. The MLB did 13 second tributes. The Columbus Crew did an homage at the 13th minute. Columbus and Calgary both held 13 minute candlelight vigils for the brothers. Bag pipes were played. Memorials were laid. Chants were screamed. To close up, a touching smooth rendition Johnny B Goode was sung by the voice of Calgary.
Every major newscast and sports channel has ran the clips and highlights of the young American duo. Symbolizing what family and brotherhood means through the world of sport, the bond these shared is unlike any other. The widowed even opened their hearts up to the world about the best moments of their lives with their fallen husbands.
Johnny and Matthew will have their funeral this upcoming Monday, the 9th at 12pm Noon on the east coast. The funeral will be Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Media, PA. The entire Blue Jackets team will be in attendance. The Gloucester Catholic High School are honoring the Gaudreau’s tonight at 5:30pm with a private vigil for close family and friends.
The criminal, Sens Higgins, has had his pre-trail hearing has been moved to September 13. It was requested by the attorneys to give them time to prepare and provide the court with more documentation.
Personally, seven days have happened and my mind may never fully process and accept this change. Sure, I’ve seen the drug deaths including Boogard, Rypien, and Belak; and the plane crash that took Pavel Demitra, Ruslan Salei, and Karlis Skrastins. There’s also been the devastating bus crash in Humboldt. As a team, we lost Matiss Kivlenieks from a fireworks accident in 2021 at Manny Legace’s outdoor party, saving Elvis Merzlikins. Even this pass season we saw the loss of Adam Johnson in Britain after a skate blade slash to the throat and Rodion Amirov to a brian tumor.
To me, this is the biggest active player loss since Pelle Lindbergh. Like the former Veznia winner, another vehicular accident in New Jersey took another great. Unlike 1985, this is the loss of two. This may be the best active American born player the hockey world has lost.
The calls for jersey retirement, and renaming the Lady Byng have gone around to find future ways to honor Gaudreau. There has also been conversation of a new award. I also wonder if there’s conversation of the US Hockey Hall of Fame and/or the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Rest easy John and Matt. You will be forever missed.
1. Sept 4 2021 - married Meredith. Wednesday would have been the third wedding anniversary.
2. Noa - Johnny chose Columbus as the place to start his family. Baby daughter Noa crowned Johnny as a first time father.
3. Johnny Jr - Johnny Sr became a two time father this past February.
4. ASG 2015 w/ Voracek - tribute moment to Johansen and his kid was made up on the fly by Voracek with Gaudreau in Columbus.
5. Gubdranson Car Moments - Erik Gudbranson shared several car moments the guys had on their way to the rink.
6. Conroy and Skittles - Conroy shared vigil moments and his times seeing Gaudreau would down bags of skittles.
7. First Check - Whit shared a story on Spittin’ Chicklets through other friends on how Gaudreau went to an ATM to cash in his first check.
8. Columbus Presser - the welcoming of Gaudreau to a Columbus in July 2022.
9. Monahan Hug - after the game winner, Monny and Gaudreau hugged it out in the tunnel to celebrate the game seven win against Dallas.
10. Sammy Adams - the 2023 wedding highlight offseason video
11. Cannon Scare - the scared Gaudreau was afraid of the cannon in a viral clip as a Flame.
12. Calgary Stampede - Gaudreau’s moments at the biggest event in Calgary on horseback.
13. Family - a true family man with many unsaid moments and bonds between Gaudreau and his closest family and friends.
Oubitraries
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/john-michael-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYM9fikwQbNkPlcwmTBaP2udJZw1oMBCmyXjp-GyttBpDhIoWnqY8lxQSQ_aem_zW3gpaArqsSO7D5ZI-Pdog
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/matthew-ryan-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ33XNOJYMaSDfXxs3NcH7AY99EWfo9ObneKgMrpds4HwrC3U6Gkj0igr0_aem_qqWUcGWcBFf0sebC0an4RQ
Want to support the Gaudreau family? Here’s several ways how:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-madeline-and-baby-tripp-after-tragedy - Donate to Gaudreau Family Fund. At the time of writing it is at $691K
https://youtu.be/7ax8zyd8nk0?si=xoI63iohdyn2vVvD - View Johnny B Goode Tribute - personal touch. Loved this slowed down clip by the voice of Calgary. Skip to the 25 second mark.
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving - Nationwide Children's Hospital (Johnny's widow, Meredith's workplace) support the children today.
https://foundation.ohiohealth.com/ - Ohio Health Foundation (where donations from a joint mental health charity drive from Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine went) Johnny joined the mission after Laine attended the NHLPA assistance club last season
https://www.childrenshospital.ab.ca/ways-to-help/donate/ - Alberta Children's Hospital for those in need and touched by the loss
https://kidsportcanada.ca/donate/ - Donata to the Youth Sporting Charity in Canada (Johnny Gaudreau donated for money each goal he scored to the Calgary chapter)
https://sniderhockey.org/support-snider/ - the Philadelphia Youth Hockey Charity (where Johnny and Matthew are from and started their youth hockey)
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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