Latest news with #BeanpotChampionship
New York Post
6 days ago
- New York Post
Gaudreau brothers' widows speak out a year after their tragic deaths: ‘Our kids didn't deserve this'
The widows of hockey player brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau opened up about their grief in an emotional interview nearly one year after their husbands were killed by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey. In an interview with ABC News, Madeline Gaudreau, the widow of Matthew, and Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of ex-NHLer Johnny recalled their final messages to the brothers at their funeral, which took place last September in Media, Pa. 'Our kids didn't deserve this,' Meredith said through tears. 'John and Matty didn't even deserve that, especially the way it happened. There is no healing when you didn't get a goodbye. It keeps me up at night.' Meredith said she promised to take care of their kids — daughter Noa, 2, and sons, Johnny, 1, and Carter, born in April 2025 — when she said her final goodbye to Johnny at his funeral. 'I thanked him for such a great life,' she recalled. 5 Madelina Gaudreau (L) and Meredith Gaudreau (R), the widows of hockey player brothers Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau, discuss their grief nearly one year after their husbands were killed by an alleged drunk driver in an interview with ABC News. YouTube/Good Morning America Meredith announced last September she was expecting her third child during a eulogy at the brothers' funeral. She welcomed Carter on April 1, seven months after the tragic death of the former Blue Jackets forward. 5 Brothers Johnny (L) and Matthew in June 2021. Katie Gaudreau/Facebook 'There is no healing when you didn't get a goodbye,' said Madeline, who wiped away her tears. Madeline was pregnant with her and Matthew's first child, Tripp Matthew, when he died. She welcomed their son last December. 'I can't even remember, maybe I was four months pregnant that the time,' Madeline recalled. 'Tripp was kicking a lot, so I just held Matt's hand on my belly for Tripp. I didn't want to say goodbye to either of them because I know I will see them again one day.' 5 Meredith and Johnny Gaudreau with their daughter Noa and son Johnny. Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram Madeline and Meredith's full interview with ABC News will air during 'Good Morning America' on Wednesday, which would have been Johnny's 32nd birthday. 'He kissed all of us goodbye — just in the driveway at his parents' house, and that was the last time I saw him,' Meredith said of that last time she saw Johnny before his death. 5 Brothers Matthew Gaudreau and Johnny Gaudreau of Boston College celebrate after the Eagles beat the Northeastern University Huskies to win their fifth Beanpot Championship in a row at TD Garden on February 10, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images Johnny and Matthew were killed when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver while cycling on a rural road in Salem County, N.J., on the eve of their sister Katie's wedding on Aug. 29, 2024. Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 28. The driver, Sean Higgins, was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide, evidence tampering and leaving the scene of an accident. Katie canceled her original wedding following the tragedy, and married her high school sweetheart, Devin Joyce, at The Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia last month. 5 Meredith Gaudreau and Madeline Gaudreau with their kids in May 2025. Instagram/Madeline Gaudreau Meredith and Madeline launched the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation in March to promote and expand youth ice hockey opportunities, help hockey families facing tragedies as well as help families that are also affected by drunk driving. The pair said they dreamed of the idea while they were still in the funeral home.
CBS News
10-02-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Boston College, Boston University squaring off for Beanpot championship
BOSTON -- The Boston College-Boston University rivalry will be renewed Monday night, and this time it's for all the beans. The Eagles and the Terriers will face off for the Beanpot Championship at TD Garden, something fans haven't seen for a while. Monday night will be the first time in nine years that Boston College and Boston University will play for a Beanpot title. The title bout at TD Garden will feature the No. 1-ranked Eagles (21-4-1) against the 8th-ranked Terries (15-10-1), as the two rivals decide who gets bragging rights for the 72nd Beanpot. The Eagles are through to the title round after an 8-2 win over the defending champion Northeastern Huskies last Monday night. The Terriers are in the championship game for a second straight season thanks to a 7-1 victory over Harvard last week, which saw BU score seven unanswered goals. The Terriers fell to Northeastern, 4-3, in overtime in last year's title game. BU hasn't won a Beanpot title since 2022. The draught has gone on longer for Boston College, as the Eagles have gone bean-less since 2016. "A Boston College team hasn't been there in a long time. It's about time we get there, but we have to get the job done," said BC sophomore forward Ryan Leonard. "It would be very special. Last year, not making it to the final game and losing to those guys, it adds motivation. It's the first trophy we can play for this season, so we have to take it back." Both teams are hoping to bring home a title on Monday night, one they believe can propel a team to even bigger things down the road. "In it's own right, you're playing for a trophy. But the season doesn't end Monday night," notes Boston College head coach Greg Brown. "It's a great test and trial run for hopefully what comes later in the season." "We want to win as many championships as we can," said BU senior Jack Hughes. "They're a really good team so to get a win against them, it would be huge for us." "It would be huge for our group. Last year, we had a lot of success but we didn't win a championship," said Boston University head coach Jay Pandolfo. "We didn't win the Beanpot, didn't win the Hockey East regular season or the Hockey East Championship. We lost in the Frozen Four, so we didn't really raise any trophies last year. "It would give our group a lot of confidence going forward," added Pandolfo. "This tournament can give you a jumpstart and really give you a lot of confidence going into the stretch run and going into the playoffs." Boston College-Boston University Beanpot history Monday night will mark the 23rd time Boston College and Boston University will play for a Beanpot title, with BU holding a 12-10 edge entering the contest. The two rivals haven't met in a Beanpot final since 2016, which BC won, 2-1, in overtime. "You cant write it up any better. It's going to be awesome," BU junior Ryan Greene said of Monday night's matchup. "The Beanpot is the best atmosphere I've ever played in, so having it be BU-BC it'll probably be crazier than what I've experienced." "It's awesome and a lot of fun. It's a great rivalry without the Beanpot in play. With the Beanpot, it makes it that much more special," said Pandolfo. "It's a great tournament to begin with, and getting the BU-BC final, it's pretty special." The last time BU beat BC in the Beanpot final was 2007, which was also a 2-1 overtime thriller. In 297 meetings overall, Boston University leads the all-time series against Boston College, 140-136-21. The two schools have combined for 51 Beanpot titles, with BU leading all schools with 31 and BC claiming 20 championships. Round 3 for BC-BU this season Monday night will be the third time BC and BU will do battle this season, with Boston College winning the first two installments of the Battle of Comm. Ave just a few weeks ago. The Eagles swept a home-and-home series against the Terries on Jan. 24 and 25, part of a nine-game winning streak for Boston College. Leonard had a hat trick for the Eagles in the team's 6-2 win at BU, and leads the country with 23 goals on the season. A night later, Boston College got 30 saves from goalie Jacob Fowler and a goal from Sudbury's Teddy Stiga in the first 14 seconds of the game in a 2-0 victory over Boston University at Conte Forum. The Eagles may have a pair of victories over the Terriers this season, but with a Beanpot title on the line, they're expecting the best out of their rival on Monday night. "They have a great team and we have great games with them all the time," said Brown. "We know how dangerous they are. We were fortunate to come out on top the first two times. We have to be focused and dialed in." "It's a good opportunity for us," said Hughes, who won a Beanpot title with Northeastern in 2022-23 before transferring to BU. "I like that we played them recently and have a chance for revenge. All the guys are hungry and that's the biggest thing for us. We have to go out and outwork them. Fowler is 19-3-1 in net this season with six shoutouts for the Eagles. He'll be countered by BU freshman Mikhail Yegorov, who made his debut in that 2-0 loss to Boston College two weeks ago. A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Yegorov owns a 1.51 goals against average and a .940 save percentage in his four starts, and has allowed just one goal in 5-on-5 play for the Terriers. Stopping the high-flying Eagles won't be easy, but Pandolfo wants his squad to keep it simple as they go for a Beanpot title. "You can't make a play every time; our guys want to make a play but you can't make a play every time. You have to play the game in front of you," he said. "Keep it simple. Every little mistake matters in these types of hockey games. The team that manages the best usually comes out on top."
