Jim Gaudreau, uncle of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, said they lost "truly two amazing humans" on Thursday night.
The uncle of NHL forward Johnny Gaudreau and former professional hockey player Matthew Gaudreau released a statement on behalf of the family on Friday.
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were tragically killed after a driver struck them in his vehicle after 8 p.m. ET in Pedricktown. The brothers were riding their bikes at the time. The driver was detained under suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto, per CBS Philadelphia.
Johnny Gaudreau was 31, while Matthew Gaudreau was 29.
"Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers, two sons and brothers in law, two nephews, two cousins, two family members, two teammates, two friends but truly two amazing humans," Jim Gaudreau, uncle to Johnny and Matthew, said in a statement, per Dan Roche of CBS News Boston.
"We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers," Jim Gaudreau's statement continued. "We ask for your continued respect and privacy during this very difficult period of grief. From all our families and the bottom of our hearts (the Gaudreau, Morris, Korbitz, Venello and Joyce families)."
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, both from Carney's Point Township, were listed as groomsmen for the wedding of their sister, Katie Gaudreau, which was scheduled for Friday in Gloucester City, N.J., and Philadelphia.
Johnny Gaudreau played in the NHL for 11 seasons, being named a Lady Byng Trophy winner in 2017, first-team all-star in 2022 and while at Boston College, the winner of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. Drafted in the fourth round, 104th overall, by the Calgary Flames in 2011, Gaudreau recorded 743 points in 763 career games between them and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Matthew Gaudreau played for the USHL's Omaha Lancers and NCAA's Boston College before beginning his professional hockey career. He spent three seasons between the AHL and ECHL, amassing 100 points in 127 career ECHL games. Most recently, Gaudreau was the head coach of Gloucester Catholic High School's hockey team, where he and Johnny attended growing up.
The hockey and sporting world and beyond continue to pay tribute to the Gaudreau brothers and send their condolences to the family, friends, loved ones and all those who knew them.