The mother of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau expressed her gratitude for the emotional tributes honoring her late sons in the aftermath of their tragic deaths.
“Thank you to the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, the players, their families, and the entire city of Columbus,” Jane Gaudreau shared via X on Sunday, October 20. “The love and support you’ve shown for John, Matty, and our family have helped us through the most difficult time of our lives.”
She added, “This past week, you made our boys feel truly special. It was so moving to witness the outpouring of love for John and the entire Gaudreau family. I wish you all could have known Matty — he was so much like John, and I know you would have loved him too.”
Jane shared a photo from the Tuesday, October 15 tribute, which marked the Blue Jackets’ first regular season home Game since the deaths of Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29.
She also extended her thanks to Boston College, where both Johnny and Matthew played, for a tribute video they posted on Friday, October 18.
“Some of our best memories are with our family and friends watching John and Matty play at Boston College ❤️❤️,” Jane wrote via X.
The brothers were struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey on August 29, the night before they were scheduled to be groomsmen in their sister Katie Gaudreau’s wedding.
During the preGame ceremony inside Columbus’ Nationwide Arena, a video montage was shown featuring interview snipPets of Johnny gushing about his love for hockey.
“Growing up my dad had me on the ice, and I think I was two or three days old,” Johnny said. “He put me right in the skates as soon as he could and he put my younger brother in skates as soon as he could as well. We have kind of been a hockey family ever since.”
Johnny signed a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets in July 2022 after spending the first eight years of his professional career with the Calgary Flames.
“Growing up you look back at your childhood and you see this is what I was meant to do,” Johnny said in the tribute video. “I think when it’s all set and done I want to be remembered as a guy who just wanted to be around the rink and around his friends, around his family.”
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You New Favorite Fleece Blanket for Fall is Just $12 Right Now! View DealIn addition to Jane and her husband Guy Gaudreau, the ceremony was attended by Johnny’s wife Meredith Gaudreau and the two children she shared with Johnny: daughter Noa, 2, and son Johnny, 7 months.
During her eulogy at the memorial service for Johnny and Matthew, Meredith revealed she is currently pregnant with the couple’s third baby.
Matthew was survived by his wife Madeline Gaudreau, who announced she is pregnant with the couple’s first baby following Matthew’s death.
