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    John and Matthew Gaudreau to be honored by family, friends and grieving hockey teammates at funeral today

    By Associated Press,

    7 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3GmWLb_0vPjI8Jx00

    The Columbus Blue Jackets and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman are among the mourners scheduled to attend the funeral service for John and Matthew Gaudreau , the siblings who died when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey.

    The memorial for the Gaudreau brothers was set for midday Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania.

    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 on the eve of their sister’s wedding.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0xeQif_0vPjI8Jx00
    Brothers Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau after the Boston College Eagles beat the Northeastern University Huskies to win the championship game of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on Feb. 10, 2014. Getty Images

    Countless members of the hockey community from Columbus to South Jersey to Boston College, where the Gaudreaus played, are expected to join family and friends for the funeral. John was 31, Matthew 29.

    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 New Jersey.

    Meredith Gaudreau, widow of NHL player Johnny Gaudreau, announces at his funeral that she is nine weeks pregnant

    Fans and Blue Jackets players gathered last week for an emotional candlelight vigil and a similar gathering was held in Calgary.

    Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said the entire team would be at the funeral. Bettman and former BC coach Jerry York were also expected to be among the many in attendance.

    “The way they carried themselves around campus and the enjoyment that they had each and every day around the guys, they were really fun to be around,” Boston College associate coach Mike Ayres said.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=11TgLE_0vPjI8Jx00
    Matthew Gaudreau (left, at his wedding), sister Katie Gaudreau (center), and Johnny Gaudreau (far right). Instagram / @kgaudreau13

    “They were both very, very talented hockey players but they were great people to be around and made everything around them fun.”

    A GoFundMe for Matthew’s widow, Madeline, to support her and their baby due in December , has surpassed $600,000, with donations from nearly 9,000 people pouring in, many from NHL players and their families.

    Tearful mourners gather for funeral of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau after drunk driving tragedy

    “He didn’t make the millions that Johnny did and doesn’t have the pension from the Players’ Association,” said Michael Myers of the ECHL’s Worcester Railers, for whom Matthew played two seasons.

    “It’s important that the hockey community recognizes that and embraces that to help Matthew’s family.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=22PLOI_0vPjI8Jx00
    Johnny Gaudreau with his children and wife Meredith. @meredithgaudreau_/Instagram
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=31oKof_0vPjI8Jx00
    Sean Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, NJ, is suspected of killing the brothers in the DWI crash. nj state police

    The Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road in Oldmans Township about 8 p.m. on Aug. 29 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.

    see also https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3I5EOs_0vPjI8Jx00 DWI suspect accused of killing Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau has different look in second NJ court appearance

    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.

    Over the weekend, an Instagram video captioned “Birds for the Gauderau boys” played over a clip of John Gaudreau opening his winter coat to flash an Eagles jersey as he went through security ahead of an NHL game.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2MzhXx_0vPjI8Jx00
    Columbus Blue Jackets player Cole Sillinger, center, reacts during the candlelight vigil to honor Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2024, outside Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. AP

    She also posted a tribute to a family slideshow called “That day” where she wrote how she would “do anything to tell my big brothers I love them one more time.”

    Devin Joyce, the expected groom and a collegiate hockey player, wrote of his promise “to take the absolute best care of your little sister.”

    He added: “I know I never said it but I loved you guys so much. I’m so lucky to have called you two my brothers for as long as I did.”

    For the latest in sports, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/sports/

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    Comments / 4
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    Darlene
    2h ago
    Go fund my ass he is a millionaire
    Sabine Bissainthe
    3h ago
    🙏🙏😭😭
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