Ohio State observed a moment of silence for NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, whose Columbus Blue Jackets play three miles south of Ohio Stadium, just before the national anthem ahead of its season opener against Akron.
“Thank you for the best years of my life,” Johnny Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, said Saturday in her first Instagram post after her husband’s death. “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. 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.”
Johnny Gaudreau starred at Boston College before achieving NHL fame with the Calgary Flames and Blue Jackets. The seven-time all-star tallied 243 goals and 500 assists in his NHL career. He leaves behind his wife and two children, the younger of whom was born in February.
Matthew also competed at Boston College before playing five seasons of professional hockey, then transitioning to coaching. He is survived by his wife, Madeline, who is pregnant with their first child, Tripp.
Johnny and Matthew were set to be groomsmen at their sister’s wedding, which was scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia. They were struck Thursday night in southern New Jersey, about 30 miles south of Philadelphia, when a man police identified as Sean Higgins attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck the brothers from behind, according to New Jersey State Police. The brothers were pronounced dead at the scene. Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29.
“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 humans,” their uncle Jim Gaudreau said in a family statement on Facebook. “We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers. We ask for your continued respect and privacy during this very difficult period of grief.”
On Friday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, the Blue Jackets and the Flames offered their condolences. Fans from Columbus and Calgary started memorials, leaving flowers and hockey sticks outside their home arenas.
The tributes continued Saturday, when Ohio State held its moment of silence before kickoff.
In Major League Baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds held moments of silence before their games on Friday. Some fans from Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew planned a moment of silence for the 13th minute of its match Saturday night, in a nod to Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey number. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts, and the hockey teams from Boston College and Ohio State also paid tribute.
For Johnny.
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) August 30, 2024
Thank you, C of Red. pic.twitter.com/2JKACcbKBR
We join the sports world in mourning the passing of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 30, 2024
The Phillies send their deepest condolences to the Gaudreau family, and to the entire NHL family for this seismic loss to their beloved community. pic.twitter.com/otBOnwTm4i
Higgins, the 43-year-old Jeep driver who struck the brothers, admitted to having five to six beers before the incident, according to a police affidavit. He was charged Friday with two counts of vehicular homicide in the second degree.
Higgins was represented by a public defense attorney in his first court appearance but said he will hire a lawyer to represent him in future proceedings. Judge Michael J. Silvanio said Friday the charges against Higgins are punishable by up to 10 years in state prison. Higgins is being held without bond pending a detention hearing Thursday, given the holiday weekend.
A GoFundMe campaign launched Friday to support Madeline and Tripp set a $30,000 goal but raised more than $300,000 in 24 hours.
