The hockey community has faced an incomprehensible loss this week with the passing of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. New Jersey State Police announced earlier today that the two were killed Thursday when they were struck by a vehicle while riding bicycles.
Both brothers were valued members of the Boston College community. Johnny was a member of the BC men’s hockey team for 3 seasons from 2011-14, and Matt played 4 seasons for the Eagles, graduating in 2017. They were both part of a string of terrific years in Boston College hockey history. Johnny played a vital role in BC’s success during the 2011-12 season, leading all NCAA freshmen in scoring, earning the Hockey East Championship MVP award, and scoring an unforgettable goal during the National Championship game.
Johnny went on to help BC win a fourth-straight Beanpot during his sophomore season, and returned for his junior year in large part so he could play a season with Matthew. Johnny ended the 2013-14 season by winning the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to the top men’s college hockey player each season.
During Matthew’s 4 seasons at BC he went from playing 8 games as a freshman to leading the team with 35 points and 27 assists as a senior. He was also a member of 2 Hockey East regular season championship teams for BC. He had a memorable goal of his own during his BC career, earning the Eagles a last second win over Denver in an early season game in 2015.
Johnny and Matt both went on to have successful professional careers. Johnny played 8 seasons for the Calgary Flames and 2 seasons for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and was invited to 7 NHL All Star Games. Matt played 3 full seasons in the AHL and ECHL and a season in Sweden, and during his final full ECHL season he recorded a career high 40 points.
While they will be remembered for their hockey accolades, the Gaudreau brothers will also be remembered for truly embodying the BC motto of “men and women for others.” When Matt retired from playing professional hockey, he stepped into youth coaching. He first took a job coaching the Philadelphia Hockey Club’s NCDC and Premier Junior teams, and was then named head coach at the Gaudreau’s alma mater Gloucester Catholic High School, a position once held by their father.
Giving back to Gloucester Catholic was important to both brothers, and Johnny did his part by hosting an annual golf tournament to fund scholarships to the school. Johnny also won the Lady Byng award in 2017, an award given to an NHL player who exemplifies both elite play and gentlemanly conduct.
The Gaudreau family truly loved BC, and parents Guy and Jane, along with the rest of the family, were familiar faces at all Boston College games while the brothers were on The Heights. As we’ve seen already today, everybody in the hockey community who ever encountered Johnny, Matt, or any member of their family has nothing but wonderful memories from those interactions. Matt and Johnny’s memories will live on in all of the Boston College fans who were blessed enough to watch them play, and in all of the Eagles who fell in love with hockey because of them.
Johnny and Matthew will be sorely missed by all of us in the Boston College and NCAA Hockey communities, and we are sending all of our love and thoughts to their families, friends, and teammates during this unfathomably tragic time.