Remembering Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau for Their Lasting Impact – Hockey Writers – Columbus Blue Jackets

Weren't we just here? It sure sounds like it, doesn't it?

It was just three summers ago that the Columbus Blue Jackets organization endured one of the worst tragedies anyone could face when goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died in a fireworks accident. The pain from that situation continues.

And now this? This can't be real, right?

On Friday morning, the Blue Jackets confirmed the worst result among several rumors. Actor Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey while riding their bikes the night before their sister's wedding.

I mean what are you saying here? What started as a normal fourth per level ended up costing two precious lives in the blink of an eye. How can anyone wrap their head around this?

Trying to come up with words to say is almost impossible in a situation like this. Johnny and Matthew absolutely deserve credit for not only what they do on the ice, but what they do. The way they lived their lives will have a lasting impact on everyone who knew them best. That is worth celebrating.

How We Got Here

Johnny and Matthew were to be ushers at his sister's wedding on Friday. On Thursday night, the Gaudreaus were riding their bikes in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. According to the New Jersey state police, the Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Sean Higgins hit Johnny and Matthew while trying to pass other vehicles.

According to the news release and probable cause affidavit, Higgins consumed “5-6 beers” before the crash. He is said to have told the police that drinking alcohol has led him to lose patience at the moment.

Higgins is being held without bond at the Salem County Correctional Facility. He did not enter his plea during his first court hearing on Friday. A hearing on the detention motion is scheduled for Sept. 5. He was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of drunken driving.

Matthew's influence on Johnny

Johnny and Matthew had a special connection. Johnny wanted to spend as much time with his brother as possible. He pointed out that it was one of the biggest ways he could make a big career decision.

With Matthew at Boston College, Johnny chose to return for his junior season. Why? So they can be teammates. It may sound strange when you hear the group “Family Matters.” For Gaudreau, that's not a cliche. That was and is their way of life.

Although Matthew did not reach the level of prominence that Johnny did, Matthew still had an impact on the game of hockey. He went from being the head coach at Gloucester Catholic High School to being an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Rebels.

True to the Gaudreau way of doing things, Matthew volunteered his time to help others succeed. As we will see with Johnny especially during his time with the Blue Jackets, each of them had hearts of gold. They would do anything to help others. That is their lasting impact.

We celebrate them as Family Men

Johnny's hockey accomplishments speak for themselves. He won an NCAA National Championship and the Hobey Baker Award. He was a 7x NHL All-Star. He had an impact on the international stage. He scored one of the most memorable goals in recent Calgary Flames history in Game 7 overtime against the Dallas Stars.

But hockey is part of Gaudreau's story and not the most important part. Johnny was a family man who was very good at hockey. The family aspect helped define the latter part of his career.

When he was given the opportunity to choose which team he wanted to play for, he chose the Columbus Blue Jackets to the shock and horror of the hockey world. It may not have made sense to many. But it made sense to him. Why? Family first.

Columbus has long been known as a great city to raise a family. Johnny got that name from a few players around the NHL. He and his wife Meredith came to Columbus not only to allow him to play hockey with a new, new contract, it allowed him to pursue his career as a nurse. His wife's desire was as important to him as his own. That is what needs to be celebrated when remembering both Johnny and Matthew. They put others before them. They loved with purpose. I think we can all learn a lesson from this.

Johnny's time in Columbus

Johnny spent nine great years with the Flames organization. It's clear what kind of lasting impact he had on that franchise. Even when he left them, they always had a place in his heart no matter where he went.

Johnny arrived in Columbus ready to help an up and coming team try to take the next step. To say that his two seasons have been difficult would be an understatement. Even in those times, Johnny remained loyal to him. He was a quiet leader. He did his best to be there for his teammates even though the points at the top were few and far between.

In total, Johnny played 161 games for the Blue Jackets. He compiled a 33-101-134 streak in those 161 games. He didn't get the stats like he did for the Flames. But he was still very good at what he did.

You May Love It Again

The thing to celebrate about Johnny's time with the green jackets is how influential he was in the locker room. In front of the cameras, he may have come across as quiet. But there is so much more than meets the eye.

First, Johnny was always available even in the most difficult times. It takes a certain kind of character to do that consistently. He was always generous with his time when needed.

Second, beyond the cameras and records, Johnny was a treasure. He had a contagious smile. He was very popular among his colleagues. You made the bathroom a better place.

Johnny loved football, especially the Philadelphia Eagles. There was always a lively bickering between him and whoever was loyal to the opposite party. But every time we raised the ball with small talk, he was bright. It was one of his favorites. He was leaving the room saying “Go Birds.” It is no coincidence that the Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts released statements on Friday.

Johnny was a leader even if he didn't say much. When he spoke, people listened. This was never more evident than when Patrik Laine entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Laine was raising money for men's health charities. When he entered the program, it was Johnny who stood up and continued what Laine started. He didn't want attention. He was not proud of it. He saw an opportunity to help and stood up quietly. The humility of Johnny and Matthew needs to be celebrated.

Then at the end of the season press availability in April, Johnny's last words were that Laine was on the show. He said “(Laine) is not alone in the city. They are with us so we have to be there for them.” We all wished each other a good summer. That was it. Those were our last words to Johnny. Who knew it would be like that? He ended up at the top level making sure that his colleagues would be there. How appropriate given the circumstances.

Johnny's arrival in Columbus was a big deal. When the stars moved, he chose Columbus. The fans welcomed him with open arms. The cannon was no longer an object of fear. In fact, the Blue Jackets Cannon Crew wrote a note on the Memorial in front of Nationwide Arena that read “Cannon always loves you. Thank you.”

Johnny's time in Columbus can be summed up like this. He was an ice star. He was a legend off the ice. He and Meredith welcomed their two children into the world while in Columbus. He made everyone around him feel welcome and better. He will never be forgotten in the corner of Front and Nationwide. He is an example of what we should all strive for in life.

Trying To Process This

This is the part where it will be the hardest. Because of one decision of Sean Higgins, tens of thousands of people around the world felt some kind of impact. He decided he didn't need Uber. He didn't need a friend to drive him home. He took care of himself. In this case, two young men who had endured all their lives lost their lives. The domino effect from there is limitless.

Imagine being a parent and losing two sons in the blink of an eye. Imagine that you are the sister who was destined for their happiest day at their wedding and was taken away from them. Imagine being in Meredith's shoes and losing your soul mate. Imagine you are Matthew's wife Madeline who is pregnant with their first child and the father is not there.

Think also of all the unintended victims. Whether it was law enforcement who had to process the incident and deal with the craziness of what was to follow or fans all over the world wondering what was going on. One irresponsible decision has resulted in many lives being impacted in one way or another. Life was faced with a brutal reminder that it is not fair in any way, shape or form. I hope there is a renewed conversation around the world about the dangers of drinking and driving so that something like this never happens again.

Now we are left to try to process this whole thing. Spending hours at Nationwide Arena on Friday, it was clear how much of an impact the Gaudreaus have had on so many people. What started as a few flowers turned into a collection of many things by the end of the night.

Many tears were shed. Many prayers were offered. Just after 7:00 PM eastern, about 70 fans gathered in front of the Nationwide Arena holding candles and held a long moment of silence followed by a prayer. For many, it was exactly where they needed to be at that moment. It was curable to some extent. But it also reinforced the idea of ​​not just how powerful the Blue Jackets fans were, but how connected they were.

Final thoughts

No words can adequately describe the horror of this whole situation. Johnny Gaudreau. Matthew Gaudreau. Two men who loved with everything they had were taken from us in an instant. We cannot imagine all the pain many people are going through.

They say the best sign of respect is what is said about a person after a tragedy like this. The entire sports world came out in solidarity. Major stars including LeBron James and South Jersey's Mike Trout expressed their condolences to the Gaudreaus. Many other people came out and had nothing but good things to say about Johnny and Matthew. That's when you know that the life you were living was good.

Johnny and Matthew may have been taken from us suddenly. Yet they left a legacy of family and love that should be celebrated every day. Hockey was only a small part of what the Gaudreaus were talking about. They show us all how to love. They also show us why family comes first.

Our heartfelt condolences to Gaudreau, the Blue Jackets, the Flames, Boston College, USA Hockey and anyone connected to Johnny or Matthew in any way. This pain will not end soon.

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. They may leave. But they will never forget. Not now. Not always. They made a lasting impact on the world that should be celebrated. Help them make the world a better place.