The uncle of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, expectant dad Matthew, shared a message of hope as the family prepares to bury the brothers following their tragic deaths.
The pair’s uncle, Jim Gaudreau, said the brothers’ untimely deaths at the hands of an alleged drunk driver the day before their sister’s wedding had knocked the family off their feet — but added that they will rise again.
“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,” their uncle shared in a touching Facebook post.
“We are gaining strength and WE WILL stand up once again. We are Gaudreau Strong!”
Jim Gaudreau said the heartbroken family was preparing to bury the hockey-playing brothers in a “final farewell.”
Johnny, who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Matthew, who also played professional hockey, were killed by a motorist as they were riding bikes in Oldmans Township, New Jersey last Thursday.
The siblings’ uncle said the outpouring of support from family, friends, fans and even strangers has “greatly comforted” the grieving family.
“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,” Jim Gaudreau wrote.
“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.”
He called those remembering Johnny and Matthew and offering their support for their families part of the family.
“We hear you, we see you, we thank you, we are ever so grateful and we are humbled by all of it,” he wrote. “We are blessed by each and every one of you and your acts of caring, kindness and compassion. You are our family!”
The brothers’ alleged killer, Sean Higgins, a 43-year-old dad and US Army major who worked at a Pennsylvania addiction treatment center, was arrested and charged with two counts of death by auto.
Higgins, of Woodstown, was attempting to pass two vehicles on the inside of County Route 551 when he struck the brothers from behind, killing both, as they took a bike ride of the eve of their sister’s wedding, police said.
The driver failed a field sobriety test, police said, and later admitted that he had “five to six” beers before the fatal incident.
Johnny and Matthew’s younger sister Katie and her fiancé, hockey player Devin Joyce, canceled their wedding, which was set to take place in Gloucester City, N.J., after the unimaginable tragedy.
Johnny, 31, leaves behind his wife Meredith and their children, Noa, under 2, and Johnny Jr., 6 months.
Meanwhile, Matthew, 29, leaves behind his wife Madeline and their unborn son. Madeline’s sister revealed the new widow is pregnant with the couple’s first child, “Baby Tripp,” due this December in a GoFundMe post that has since raised more than $555,000.
“John and Matty…… Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hands,” their uncle ended his post.