In a deeply emotional service held Monday, family, friends, and former teammates gathered at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania, to mourn the tragic loss of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother, Matthew. The two siblings were killed on August 29 when a suspected drunk driver struck them as they biked along a rural road in Salem County, New Jersey.
The bond between Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, was central to the heartfelt eulogies delivered by their loved ones. Johnny’s wife, Meredith, spoke of her husband’s pride in their young son, Baby Johnny, who was born in February. “John would want me to mention Baby Johnny’s size. He’s in the 93rd percentile for his weight, something that Daddy was very proud of,” she said, recalling how her husband always referred to their son as “a little unit.”
Meredith, pregnant with their third child, also expressed comfort in knowing that her husband and his brother were still together. “I want to say to everyone that neither John nor Matty suffered. It makes me feel better knowing that whatever silly conversation they were having, it just picked right back up in heaven in a flash,” she shared.
Matthew’s wife, Madeline, echoed the deep connection between the brothers. “The bond Matt and John shared is something that, unless you knew them personally, even the most perfect words, pictures, or videos cannot adequately describe it,” she said. “They were attached at the hip. They slept in the same room up until college and neither of them ever wanted that to change.” She poignantly added, “Meredith said it best — you do not hear one name without the other. They were so extremely proud of each other, and it brings me comfort knowing they are still together forever, as they always were.”
The Gaudreau brothers’ caskets rested side-by-side at the front of the church, surrounded by many of hockey’s biggest names who came to pay their respects. Johnny, who starred for nine seasons with the Calgary Flames and was a key player for the Columbus Blue Jackets, was remembered as one of the NHL’s “biggest little stars.” Former teammates, including Sean Monahan and Andrew Mangiapane, served as pallbearers, while Buddy Robinson, who had played alongside both brothers, read a prayer.
Johnny and Matthew’s close relationship was further highlighted by Father Tony Penna, who heads the ministry at Boston College. He shared a memory from Johnny’s freshman year when Matthew, still in high school, visited him. “They must have said ‘I love you’ 19 times as they said their goodbyes,” Penna recalled.
The Calgary hockey community also played a special part in the service, with Flames connections like Rasmus Andersson, Mikael Backlund, and Matthew Tkachuk, among others, in attendance. “Calgary has such a special place in John’s heart and mine,” Meredith said, reflecting on the city where Johnny rose to stardom, earning over a point-per-game average despite being one of the smallest players on the ice.
As the service concluded, Madeline offered a final, moving tribute: “Linemates forever.” The words captured the essence of their inseparable bond, ensuring that Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau will always be remembered as brothers and teammates — both on and off the ice.
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