The tragic collision that killed professional hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, on Aug. 29 in Salem County, N.J., is sending shockwaves not only through the sports world, but also the Catholic community in southern New Jersey.
Johnny, who recently celebrated his 31st birthday, and Matthew, 29, were pedacycling Thursday night on a road in Oldmans Township when they were struck by an allegedly drunk driver who was trying to pass the vehicle in front of his, according to ESPN.com. The driver, Sean Higgins of Woodstown, N.J., has been charged with two counts of death by auto.
The brothers were scheduled to be groomsmen in their sister’s wedding Aug. 30 in Philadelphia.
Both Johnny and Matthew were graduates of Gloucester Catholic High School in Camden County, N.J., and both attended Boston College, a Jesuit institution, before embarking on their professional careers. Johnny played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League, nine for the Calgary Flames and the last two for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Matthew had a playing career in the minor leagues and overseas before becoming the hockey coach at Gloucester Catholic in 2022. They played one season together in college.
Matthew told nj.com upon his hiring that his sister, Katie, also graduated from Gloucester Catholic, and his father, Guy, started the hockey program there and was its first coach.
Johnny had sponsored an annual golf tournament to benefit Gloucester Catholic, which was played for the eighth time last month at Blue Heron Pines Golf Club in Egg Harbor City, N.J. He was also involved in charitable initiatives in Calgary and Columbus.
Johnny Gaudreau, who grew up in Carneys Point, N.J., and his wife, Meredith, have two young children, a son and a daughter. Matthew is survived by his wife, Madeline. In addition to their father and mother, Jane, the brothers also are survived by another sister, Kristen.
