Gaudreau family releases statement following the passing of Johnny & Matthew

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Cooper Godin
September 4, 2024 (2:36 PM)

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The Gaudreau family has released a statement following the passing of Johnny & Matthew last week.

It's been nearly a week since it was announced Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew passed away after being struck by an alleged drunk driver while riding their bicycles. The Gaudreau brothers were coming home from the rehearsal dinner for their sister's wedding, which was set to be held last Friday.

Tributes have poured in from all corners of the hockey world in the last five days and on Tuesday night, the Gaudreau family released a statement on the passing of Johnny & Matthew. The family thanked everyone for their kind words and actions in this difficult period for them.

"As we embark on the journey of laying John and Matty to rest, we are greatly comforted by all those who have visited these growing memorials and who have left messages of love, prayers, thoughts of kindness as well as jerseys, skates, sticks, pucks, flowers, candles and so many other tokens of remembrance. We are consoled by the memorials on each of your doorsteps, in your yards and on your cars. We have heard and seen the countless moments of silence and heartfelt messages by so many professional athletes, organizations and other athletic
leagues, by every single person in private, along with the extremely heartfelt messages from broadcasts, media and each and every single one of you along with the random acts of kindness and compassion by complete strangers. The endless stream of food, flowers, friends and family on our doorstep. And, by all the acts of kindness and compassion that we aren't even aware of.

We have been brought to our knees, but in that process we have witnessed and are reminded that we have been blessed with everything everyone has done for us through the lives John and Matty lived. We are gaining strength and WE WILL stand up once again. We are Gaudreau Strong!

We hear you, we see you, we thank you, we are ever so grateful and we are humbled by all of it. We are blessed by each and everyone of you and your acts of caring, kindness and compassion. You are our family! We are Gaudreau Strong!

As we commence this final farewell we are lifted up by the kind, caring and genuine examples as humans that John and Matty were to this world and which are being showered upon us through each of you in every single act of remembrance and kindness.

Continue to pray for us.

John and Matty........ Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hands.

#WeAreGaudreauStrong1321"

Both the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets will be holding candlelight vigils for Johnny & Matthew Gaudreau on Wednesday night. If anyone is unable to attend in Calgary, the Flames will be livestreaming the vigil through their social media channels starting at 8 pm Mountain time.

The thoughts of everyone here at Canucks Daily continue to be with the Gaudreau family, as well as the friends and teammates of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, at this difficult time.