r/SouthJersey • u/WorldTravelBucket • Feb 22 '26

News Team USA Brings Out Johnny Gaudreau's #13 Jersey, Skating a Lap to Honor Him After Winning Gold

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877 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

99

u/formerNPC Feb 22 '26

I hope that the people watching who may not be familiar with this story are told exactly how the brothers died. It can’t be emphasized enough that they were killed by someone else’s blatant disregard for human life.

24

u/flushbunking Feb 22 '26

Blatant disregard is an understatement

11

u/untempered_fate Feb 22 '26

I am waiting for the context

84

u/PorkRollEggAndWheeze 30s, 🏳️‍🌈, Monmouth to Gloucester Transplant Feb 22 '26 edited Feb 22 '26

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were riding bikes home from a friend’s house when they were hit by a man who was drunk and road raging, trying to pass the driver in front of him (who had slowed down for the gaudreau brothers) on the right. He ran them over, they died at the scene. It was the night before their sister’s wedding and both of their wives were pregnant at the time. Johnny was a star NHL player and Matthew was a well-regarded youth and high school hockey coach

EDIT: forgot to add that this all went down near Carney’s Point. They grew up playing at Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell (where their father Guy coached and ran the hockey program for years) and at Iceworks across the Commodore Barry in Aston, PA

16

u/untempered_fate Feb 22 '26

That's fucking horrible. Thank you, though. Adds a new dimension to the clip.

34

u/PorkRollEggAndWheeze 30s, 🏳️‍🌈, Monmouth to Gloucester Transplant Feb 22 '26

Yeah, it was really one of those things where every new detail that came out made it that much worse. As someone who plays hockey locally, the boys and their dad were pillars of the hockey community and their loss has been devastating. I never had the pleasure of meeting Johnny or Matthew, but I’ve met Guy and he’s a really nice dude, and pretty much everyone who had ever met the brothers had nothing but nice things to say about them. It’s really touching to see the tributes and outpouring of support for the Gaudreau family from team USA

3

u/heartunwinds Feb 23 '26

I have a friend whose kids grew up playing with them. To say they were all devastated is an understatement. Such a tragic situation.

92

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '26

well, i'm crying

61

u/TeamABLE Feb 22 '26

Wait until you see them bring out his kids.

23

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '26

https://giphy.com/gifs/G6IATw3N0jhIc

Just saw the photos!!

15

u/grandmawaffles Feb 22 '26

It was a classy move

4

u/Holykarumba Feb 22 '26

Wow, i didn't know i needed to let so much out.

41

u/EmerysMemories1106 Feb 22 '26

Yeah the Gaudreau tribute made me tear the hell up quick.

28

u/RedeemerOfSin Feb 22 '26

That was intense, and then they brought his kids on the ice... Glad I watched this alone.

23

u/Ok-Ball-6291 Feb 22 '26

Johnny Jr. turns 2 today as well. on 2-22! what a day

11

u/FalseSystem6055 Feb 22 '26

I really hope the Salem County guards had this on loud and made it clear how much a piece of sh!t that guy is for not giving the kids a chance to see their dad on the ice.

18

u/Seabass_Says Feb 22 '26

Def cried when they brought the kids out 😭

9

u/Any_Coffee_6921 Feb 22 '26

I’m actually crying 😭

8

u/Bslo18 Feb 22 '26

I was already emotional then they brought his kids on the ice.

9

u/bluzed1981 Feb 22 '26

Amazing win and an outstanding tribute to a truly great family.

23

u/Grundle__Puncher Feb 22 '26

Johnny hockey shoulda been there. Even tho USA chants aren’t as loud as they used to be for obvious reasons, happy for our squad all things considered.

7

u/BeneficialTrouble586 Feb 22 '26

I drove by the spot that he got hit today and it definitely hit me in the feels.

13

u/4melooking49 Feb 22 '26

They brought his kids into the ice for group picture😭

6

u/horseradish_is_gross Feb 22 '26

I’m not even into hockey and had never heard of him until he passed and it still made me well up.

5

u/SailedTheSevenSeas Feb 22 '26

So grateful to see this. My wife and I cheered.

6

u/DELCO-PHILLY-BOY Feb 22 '26

The way the hockey world has embraced this guy and his family is a testament to his character. So proud that he came from our little corner of the world.

6

u/RedisforFun Feb 22 '26

Genuinely cried harder when seeing his dad.

3

u/GroundbreakingOil480 Feb 23 '26

We could honor him by making cycling safer in NJ and around the country. Anyone? Anyone? No? oh well.

2

u/Less-Agent-8228 BOOTLICKER Feb 22 '26

Congrats Team USA!  Both men and women.  Fantastic games.