- Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were killed two years ago today in Salem County, New Jersey
- Tributes came in Saturday from Calgary, Columbus and hockey people across the sport
- Read below for where the criminal case against the driver stands two years later
Two years ago today, hockey lost Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
The brothers were killed on Aug. 29, 2024, struck by a driver while riding their bikes near their hometown in Salem County, New Jersey. They were out the night before their sister Katie’s wedding. Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29.
Saturday brought tributes from every corner of the sport. We went back to Boston College for ours, a black-and-white photo of the two of them holding a trophy together, Johnny still in his BC sweater and Matthew standing beside him in a suit:
Both played at Boston College, which is why so many of Saturday’s posts used pictures of the pair rather than just the NHL player.
Calgary put out its own message Saturday morning. Johnny spent his first eight full NHL seasons there, and the city has never really let go of him:
Longtime Philadelphia hockey writer Sam Carchidi covered the Gaudreaus for years in South Jersey. He wrote Saturday about what the brothers were away from the rink:
Seven All-Star selections and 743 points in 763 NHL games is where Johnny’s career stopped, with 243 goals and 500 assists. His 115 points in 2021-22 are still the third-highest single-season total by an American-born player, behind only Pat LaFontaine and Kevin Stevens.
Matthew was heading into his third season as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Rebels of the NAHL.
The criminal case has still not reached a jury.
Sean Higgins pleaded not guilty and turned down a plea offer that carried 35 years. He faces charges including aggravated manslaughter and reckless vehicular homicide, and Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio denied the defense’s latest attempt to throw out the indictment back in May.
Johnny Hockey would have turned 33 earlier this month. Two years on, the sport still has not stopped saying both their names.
