WESTVILLE, N.J. — To his family, he was simply John. The famous moniker “Johnny Hockey” didn`t emerge until John Gaudreau`s time playing for Boston College, a nickname that stuck with him throughout his 11 seasons in the NHL.
His mother, Jane, fondly remembers the “Johnny Hockey” chants and merchandise created by BC fans for the talented player. Back home in New Jersey, his younger brother Matthew, also a Boston College hockey player, and sisters Kristen and Katie would good-naturedly tease him with the nickname as his popularity and All-Star career grew with teams in Calgary and Columbus.
Jane Gaudreau shared one of thousands of family anecdotes: a night at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas when John attempted to maintain a low profile during a family outing. Katie, however, had other plans while walking the Strip, loudly calling out, “Johnny! Johnny Hockey!”
“I can see John’s face getting redder and redder,” Jane Gaudreau recalled with a laugh. “You walk down the street and no one knows who you are until Katie started making this whole big thing.”
Life was seemingly normal for the family when they gathered for Katie’s wedding last August. John and Matt served as groomsmen, and Kristen was the maid of honor. However, what followed – a wave of shock and sorrow that swept from New Jersey across the hockey world – has been extensively reported over the past eight months.
The night before the wedding, John, 31, and Matt, 29, died after being struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in the Delaware River country south of Philadelphia. The tragedy left the family irrevocably broken, facing a loss from which it is impossible to fully recover.
Yet, they persevere.
From the births of new family members and hockey tributes to sharing memories through photos and establishing a new foundation, including a fundraising initiative for a playground at their cherished local school, the Gaudreaus have pushed through incredibly dark days when even basic tasks felt impossible. They draw strength from one another, just as they did as a family of six in South Jersey, guided by a simple principle: to live life to the fullest in honor of Matt and John.
Challenges remain, and difficult times will undoubtedly reappear. The driver accused of causing the brothers` deaths, a man prosecutors allege had a history of aggressive driving, is still awaiting trial.
However, as Jane Gaudreau speaks about her vision for a new, accessible playground for the special education students at the school where she works, it is the happy memories that provide comfort and motivation. These stories uplift the spirits of Jane, her husband Guy, and countless friends and teammates navigating their first hockey season in decades without two men who were so vital to their growing families and to the game itself.
“It’s great to keep their memories alive,” said their sister, Kristen Venello, a speech assistant at Archbishop Damiano School who proudly wears her Blue Jackets hoodie. “It is sad. But you think about all the good things they did and that’s all you can think about. And how much they can help us still.”
The Project
Archbishop Damiano School, founded in 1968 for children with Down syndrome, now supports 125 students aged 3 to 21 with various special needs. Jane Gaudreau’s brother attended the school, and their mother worked there for 44 years. Jane joined the staff in 1984 and continues as a finance associate. Kristen, the eldest daughter, has taught at the school for almost two decades. Katie used to help with the children whenever possible, and both Gaudreau brothers volunteered at the school when they weren’t playing hockey.
In their passing, they have the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on Damiano beyond their family`s connection to hockey.
Kelsie Snow, who lost her husband Chris, a former assistant general manager for the Calgary Flames, to Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2023, offered Jane advice on coping with profound grief: Stay active. Find a meaningful project. Jane and Guy embraced this idea and searched for the right endeavor, ultimately realizing the answer lay with Archbishop Damiano.
The Gaudreaus and the school staff are now fully invested in raising funds for a modern playground designed for accessibility, featuring ramps and transfer platforms to accommodate students in wheelchairs and with other disabilities. The upcoming Gaudreau Family 5K, scheduled for May 31, is expected to be a significant source of funding for this initiative, which Principal Michele McCloskey first launched in 2020.
“I know the boys would be proud of us,” Jane stated. “Both boys loved children, that’s why we thought the playground would be perfect.”
The Gaudreaus have another deeply personal project ahead: embracing their roles as doting grandparents. Both daughters-in-law gave birth after their husbands` deaths. Meredith, who announced her pregnancy during her emotional eulogy for John in August, welcomed the couple’s third child, Carter Michael Gaudreau, in April. Madeline delivered her and Matty’s first baby, Tripp Matthew Gaudreau, in December.
Jane smiles when describing how much the new babies resemble their fathers. Tripp has light hair like his dad; Carter looks like his older sister Noa, and both children resemble John.
“My husband keeps saying this,” Jane remarked, “`I think God sent us John and Matty back.`”
The Road Ahead
Guy and Jane, married for 42 years, rarely go out to dinner, feeling overwhelmed by guilt about finding enjoyment. These emotions also weigh heavily on Katie. She told her mother that while she wanted to marry her fiancé, Devin Joyce, she was unsure about having a large wedding. Jane gently advised her that there was no wrong choice, encouraging her to allow the anger and sadness to subside and take all the time needed to decide.
The couple eventually rescheduled their wedding for July 11. Katie shared on her Instagram, “I guess this year has taught me to celebrate our love everyday, every minute.”
“You know the boys, they’ll be there with us that day,” Jane said reassuringly. “They would want you to have fun.”
Jane added with resolve, “This guy already took two of the most important things away from us. Don’t let him take away your wedding.”
A Legacy of Laughter
The Gaudreau Family 5K has reached its capacity of 1,000 runners for the race day at a New Jersey park, but individuals worldwide can still contribute as virtual participants. Over 700 people have already registered from New Jersey, Canada, Ireland, eager to support the cause. The fundraising effort also includes an online memorabilia auction spanning various items beyond hockey, with all proceeds dedicated to the playground initiative, aiming for a $600,000 goal.
The current playground is inadequate for the students` needs; it has damaged turf and outdated equipment not designed for children with disabilities. If the fundraising target is met, the school hopes to begin construction this fall and complete the project by next spring.
It may seem inadequate to call it a positive outcome, but the family has desperately sought to find some meaning, some good, born from the senseless deaths.
So, they will run.
For John. For Matt. For a cause the brothers strongly supported during their lives.
“It’s not the way I’d want to build the playground, of course,” Jane admitted. “I tend to believe they’ll be up there, being able to listen to the children’s laughter. They’ll just really love the fact that the children will have a playground to play in.”
