The entire Columbus Blue Jackets team will attend a Monday service in Media, Pa., for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
It will be at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in suburban Philadelphia and live streamed through the Jackets’ website to the many grieving friends and fans throughout the hockey world.
The brothers died a week ago when struck from behind by a car while riding their bicycles on a rural road in their home state of New Jersey, the night before the scheduled wedding of their sister.
Sean Higgins, the 43-year-old man charged with two counts of death by auto and alcohol-related offences, had his first pre-trial hearing on Thursday postponed until Sept. 13 to allow his recently appointed attorneys more time to prepare.
On Thursday, player agent Lewis Gross added a touching send-off for his two clients with a statement.
According to the criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press, Higgins told authorities he drank “5-6 beers” prior to the crash and admitted to consuming alcohol while driving.
“Money never drove these boys, family did,” Gross said in reference to Johnny initially refusing an offer from Calgary so he could play another year at Boston College with Matthew and also Matthew breaking a contract in Sweden because he missed wife, Madeline.
Later, NHL free agent Johnny would take less cash to play in Columbus than other cities because he believed so deeply in their Stanley Cup future. Gross saw the whole family a month ago at their charity golf tournament. Madeline pregnant with the couple’s first child. In his statement, he thanked Gaudreau’s parents, Guy and Jane, for trusting his company to represent them.
“The hockey might be over, but my commitment to John and Matt will last throughout my life. Not a day will go by when I don’t miss you two. An agent’s dream, two players who became friends, two players who became family.”
Gross has established a foundation in their memory through his Edgewood Cliffs, N.J., business office.
Tributes have been pouring in over social media for the two brothers. Fans in Calgary setup a tribute to the former Flames star, including chalk art, framed photos, sticks and jerseys.
“Thank you for the best years of my life,” Johnny Gaudreau’s wife, Meredith, wrote on Instagram.
“Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours. I love you so so much,” she added.
“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.”
A GoFundMe set up to help support Matthew’s wife, Madeline, who is expecting the couple’s first child, had surpassed $615,000 as of Thursday morning.
“In this unimaginably difficult time, we are coming together to support Matthew’s wife, Madeline and their growing baby Tripp, and help alleviate some of the financial burdens they now face,” the fundraiser says. “Your support will allow them the time to take off work to grieve and heal as a family.
“Although no amount of money can ease the pain of loss, your support on any level will help take some of the financial weight off the Gaudreau family as they navigate this journey.”