Hockey was devastated by the news brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau lost their lives. It shows the hockey world is not immune from terrible tragedies like this one, says Adam Proteau.
Johnny GaudreauThe news hit like a sledgehammer – Columbus Blue Jackets star winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, lost their lives after a driver struck them with a car in their home state of New Jersey Thursday night.
Two brothers, two sons, two husbands, two fathers and two beloved members of the hockey community are no longer with us. And, sadly, this marks another devastating tragedy that has taken place in hockey’s off-season.
In 2008, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luc Bourdon was killed in a motorcycle accident in New Brunswick. In 2011, Rick Rypien, Derek Boogaard and Wade Belak passed away. In 2018, former Senators and Flyers goalie Ray Emery drowned in Hamilton, Ont.
That same year, former NHLer Jimmy Hayes passed away at age 31. Hayes' brother, Kevin Hayes' played with Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau at Boston College, and he shared a picture of Johnny Gaudreau with his nephew, Beau.
Hayes wrote, "Love you John! Say hello to Beau's Dad for me."
Each untimely loss cut deeply into the heart of the hockey world. Each young man should have lived a long and fruitful life. And each tragedy will never be forgotten by friends, fans and family of those we lost.
Words don’t suffice to express how awful everyone in the hockey world – and the world at large – feel in the wake of this news about Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. You can’t properly encapsulate the hole left in the existence of everyone who knew them. You can’t replace the joy they brought to the hockey community.
They made an impact at Boston College, where the brothers played before their professional careers. They made impacts in Calgary and Columbus, where Johnny spent 11 tremendous NHL seasons, and they made impacts in the AHL and ECHL, where Matthew plied his craft. Their imprint is everywhere, and that’s why this news hurts as much as it does.
Ultimately, the hockey world is not immune to the tragedies that befall us, but that does not and will never make it any bit easier when one person's life ends. The lives of all involved will never be the same. And truthfully, our lives will never be the same.
The overriding message coming out of this heartbreaking news is to cherish the people around you each and every day. We don’t get to author our exit from this existence. All we can do is be kind and caring as much as possible, and live with the fates as best we can.
Saying Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau will be fondly remembered and greatly missed are understatements. They were part of the hockey community. Each of them were one of us. And while we’ll all do what we can to move on and live a joyful and long life, we will hold them in our hearts as they deserve to be.