Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who both tragically passed away on Thursday night, have been celebrated by the sports teams they grew up loving as South Jersey natives, including the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Gaudreau brothers came of age in Carneys Point Township, attending Gloucester Catholic High School and later Boston College together, where they formed a close bond with former Flyer Kevin Hayes.
"[Johnny] is one of my best friends," Hayes said back in 2019. "Not even within hockey, just within my life. We were pretty much inseparable for three years [at Boston College]."
Johnny, who came to earn the nickname "Johnny Hockey," and Matthew, along with the rest of the Gaudreau family, have long been pillars of their community in New Jersey. Johnny specifically has been credited with helping to make breaking into the NHL more accessible for undersized forwards.
Because of their proximity to the city of Philadelphia, the brothers grew up fans of the city's sports teams—and their childhood teams reciprocated that love.
The Philadelphia Phillies held a moment of silence for the pair before their game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday.
The Philadelphia Eagles also paid tribute on social media, posting a picture of the two wearing Eagles jerseys with their hockey numbers on the back.
The Flyers also released a statement mourning the brothers' passing, mentioning how both of them participated in the Little Flyers program as children, along with highlighting Matthew's return to his roots by playing for the team's ECHL affiliate, the Reading Royals, along with taking up coaching high school hockey in the area.
They also commended Johnny, Matthew, and the entire Gaudreau family for their contributions to the community on and off the ice.
"Throughout all of their success in the hockey world, both continued to give back to our community," part of the statement read. "Johnny and Matthew, as well as the entire Gaudreau family, have made a sizable difference in the lives of so many in the Philadelphia area to learning and growing the sport of hockey."
Johnny and Matthew, who were 31 and 29, respectively, are survived by their parents, Guy and Jane, and their sisters, Katie and Kristen.
Johnny is survived by his wife, Meredith, and two children—a daughter, Noa, who turns 2 in October, and a son, Johnny, 7 months.
Matthew is survived by his wife, Madeline, and an unborn son, who they planned to name Tripp.
A GoFundMe has been set up to assist in funeral costs and helping to care for Madeline and Tripp.
Anyone who is able to is also encouraged to donate to two causes that Johnny championed—the OhioHealth Foundation's Mental Health Services and Programs, and helping raise money for students at Gloucester Catholic High School to obtain scholarships.
