Mourners gather to remember Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau at funeral service in Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA - Mourners gathered Monday at a Pennsylvania church for the funeral of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, more than a week after they were struck by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bikes in New Jersey.
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania hosted the service. Monday's funeral was preceded by a private viewing that was held on Sunday
John, an All-Star for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets known as "Johnny Hockey," and Matthew, who played collegiate hockey alongside his brother at Boston College, died Aug. 29 on the eve of their sister’s wedding.
Family and friends arrived at the church by bus more than two hours before the service. Countless members of the hockey community from Columbus to South Jersey to Boston College joined family and friends for the funeral, including the entire Blue Jackets team, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and former BC coach Jerry York.
Gaudreau funeral: Hockey brothers killed by driver to be laid to rest Monday
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, two hockey players who were hit and killed while biking in New Jersey last month, will be laid to rest Monday. The funeral will be held at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania.
The brothers have been mourned across the sports world, including Columbus, Ohio, where Gaudreau signed a free-agent deal in 2022 with the small-market Blue Jackets over more lucrative free-agent offers from other teams, including the New Jersey Devils. Fans and Blue Jackets players gathered last week for an emotional candlelight vigil, and a similar gathering was held in Calgary.
A GoFundMe for Matthew’s widow, Madeline, to support her and their baby due in December, has surpassed $645,000, with donations from nearly 9,000 people pouring in, many from NHL players and their families.
The Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road in Oldmans Township about 8 p.m. when a man driving an SUV in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind, according to New Jersey State Police. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
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Police said the driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and faces two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. He has been jailed pending a Sept. 13 hearing.
The brothers have been celebrated on various social media platforms since their deaths. Katie Gaudreau, the little sister who was to be married the day after the brothers were killed, has posted pictures of her family in happier times on social media.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.