Latest news with #MatthewGaudreau
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Thousands take part in Gaudreau Family 5K walk and run in honor of brothers John and Matthew
Hockey sticks from various vigils for hockey players Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were fatally struck by a motorist while riding bicycles, rest against a sign at the inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K Walk, Run and Family Day, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Sewell, N.J. (AP Photo/Stephen Whyno)
New York Times
2 days ago
- General
- New York Times
At Gaudreau Family 5K, memory of late brothers Johnny and Matthew shines bright: ‘The boys are here'
SEWELL, N.J. — In the hour before the Gaudreau Family 5K on Saturday morning, with the sidewalk still wet from a rainstorm the previous night, hundreds and hundreds of participants filed into Washington Lake Park and headed toward a clearing where the race was to begin. A rainbow in the sky greeted all of them. Advertisement 'The boys are here,' said Deb Vasaturo, one of the event organizers. Nine months ago, mere days after John and Matthew Gaudreau were struck and killed by an SUV driver while riding bicycles together on Aug. 29, a group of close friends, including Vasaturo, had gathered at the family home in Penns Grove, N.J., hoping to offer support to the brothers' parents, Jane and Guy. That day, a double rainbow had split through the sky — a tiny comfort in a period of unimaginable grief. The 31-year-old John, better known as Johnny among fans, was playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets when he and 29-year-old Matthew died, and Zach Aston-Reese felt his presence throughout the NHL season. In February, on the first birthday of John's oldest son, a beautiful sunset graced Columbus; late in the season, before a must-win road game for the Blue Jackets, a rainbow appeared above the Philadelphia Flyers' arena. He was touched again when another rainbow emerged before the 5K, as throngs of runners and walkers gathered for the race. 'It's almost a year since (the accident), but I think it's something that can take a lifetime to heal from,' Aston-Reese said. 'Any time you get a chance to support, especially the bigger events, it's really special.' Around 1,100 people signed up for either the competitive 5K, which kicked off at 8 a.m., or a more casual 8:45 a.m. race of the same distance. Kids had their chance to compete in a one-mile run later in the morning. Multiple race participants wore jerseys of John, a seven-time NHL All-Star nicknamed Johnny Hockey, who played for the Calgary Flames and Blue Jackets. Some also wore gear for Matthew, who reached the AHL after a four-year career at Boston College and most recently suited up with the ECHL's Worcester Railers in 2021-22. The park was alive with activity throughout the morning. One tent showcased signed jerseys up for a silent auction, as kids played lawn games nearby. Baskets sitting on the covered stage were raffled off. Below them, attendees wrote memories and messages of support for the Gaudreau family on a big white banner. Advertisement The event raised money for an adaptive playground at Archbishop Damiano, a special education school in Westville, N.J. The Gaudreau family has deep family connections with the school: Jane's brother has special needs, and their mother worked there for more than 40 years. All four of the Gaudreau kids — Kristen, John, Matthew and Katie — have either volunteered for or worked at the school too. 'The playground has been a project for I think four or five years, and there just never was enough funding,' Vasaturo said. '(The 5K) was a perfect marriage of doing something good to honor the boys and seeing children laugh and smile.' Jane, Guy, Kristen and Katie were present throughout. Both boys loved children, Jane said, so seeing all the smiling kids would have been everything they would've wanted in the event. 'I think they would just be so proud of us that we did (this),' she said. Guy noted that Matthew would have run the 5K and won. He frequently beat John in off-ice exercises growing up, leaving his older brother 'so mad he couldn't see straight,' their dad said with fondness. Professional hockey players went out of their way to attend as well. South Jersey natives Buddy Robinson, who played 62 NHL games and is now in the KHL, and Tony DeAngelo, who played with the New York Islanders this past season, were both there. Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, a teammate of John Gaudreau's for the United States at the World Championships last summer, traveled from his offseason home on the Jersey Shore and wore a black sweatshirt that read 'Johnny Hockey.' Aston-Reese and Erik Gudbranson represented the Blue Jackets. 'Our family wouldn't have missed this,' said Gudbranson, who came with his wife and kids straight from a trip to Disney World. 'There's no way.' In the aftermath of John and Matthew's deaths, the Gaudreau family's friends wanted to find ways to help. Vasaturo initially thought of the charity 5K. When she approached Guy and Jane in October, Jane thought it was a wonderful idea but felt the family didn't have the emotional bandwidth to provide much help. Advertisement That wasn't an issue. Their friends — a committee of around 18 people — took care of it all. 'They did everything, organized everything,' Guy said. 'They just wanted us to be here.' Community members beyond the committee, including Aston-Reese, helped too. The Blue Jackets forward studied graphic design while playing college hockey at Northeastern University, and one of Jane's friends reached out and asked him to create the event logo. Honored, the Blue Jackets forward came up with a design — two interlocking hockey sticks with doves above them and the Gaudreau family name across the middle — that ultimately went on the race shirts and medals. 'It was pretty surreal pulling in and seeing everyone with their shirts on and the logo you created,' Aston-Reese said. Along with the race in Sewell, more than 1,300 people signed up to compete in a virtual 5K, with participants across the U.S. and Canada, as well as in multiple other countries, including Ireland, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates. Florida Panthers players, who are preparing for the Stanley Cup Final, participated from Fort Lauderdale. 'Thursday, yesterday and even this morning I woke up, (and) I can't clean out my inbox because I get all the notices of all the donations and all the registrations,' said Paul O'Connor, an organizing committee member whose son was a childhood friend of Matthew. 'It just keeps growing.' Jane Gaudreau said it was emotional pulling into the park and seeing how many people were there. She and Guy initially expected the 5K to draw maybe 100 or 200 people. To see it balloon into an event with more than 1,000 was 'overwhelming, but in a good way,' she said. After the races, the family stood on stage for an award ceremony. The public address announcer listed off the overall top finishers, then the winners of each age group. The NHL players on hand presented awards: In place of trophies, each person received a gift card and one of the hockey sticks left at public memorials after John and Matthew's deaths. 'Just to be able to show support for this amazing family and see this amazing turnout, it was pretty great to be a part of,' said Tkachuk, who walked the more casual 5K. 'I'm just so thankful they had me here.' Every finisher received a medal that read '1st annual 5K run/walk,' indicating Saturday wasn't a one-off event, and indeed the current plan is to continue it in the future. Jane has seen messages asking if the family would host the race in Calgary or Columbus, which has given her ideas. She saw requests from Calgary first, so she said she'll perhaps run next year as a virtual participant with people there. Advertisement But this year the Gaudreaus were home in New Jersey, only a five-minute drive from Hollydell Ice Arena, the rink where the boys spent countless hours as kids. Jane stood near the end of the course as the fastest runners wrapped up the competitive race. She clapped and whooped as they neared the finish line. Guy, meanwhile, ran the race. He wore a bright orange long-sleeved shirt, and the crowd burst into applause when the public address announcer pointed him out as he came around the final turn. Vasaturo, the friend whose idea led to Saturday's event, cheered and cheered from the stage. 'His strength and Jane's strength and their resiliency is just amazing,' she said. 'We just want to be there and help them along the way, take these steps with them.' (Top photo of the Gaudreau family and NHL players: Gillian Kocher / Gaudreau Family 5K)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Hundreds gather for Gaudreau Family 5K run/walk
The Brief Hundreds turned out in a powerful tribute Saturday morning as the community came together for a heartfelt 5K run honoring the legacy of the Gaudreau brothers. The brothers were fatally struck by a car while they were riding their bikes in Oldmans Township last year. The driver was allegedly under the influence at the time of the accident. SEWELL, N.J. - Hundreds gathered to honor the two brothers killed while cycling in Salem County last year at the Inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K Run, to help raise funds for a playground for kids with disabilities, in honor of the pair. The backstory "This is great, we are bringing the hockey community and the running community together here in South Jersey and Philadelphia to celebrate Johnny and Matthew," said Dave Welsh, a local business owner and organizer of the event. Last year, Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau's lives were abruptly taken away after they were hit and killed by an alleged drunk driver as they were riding their bicycles in Salem County, New Jersey. Both pillars of the hockey community, with Johnny, taking his talent to the NHL. Big picture view "When you first heard this tragedy that occurred, it was so riveting and overwhelming, that anything that we could possibly do to help, we were right on board. We are big hockey fans, we loved everything about this event so, we figured we're gonna do it," says one of the participants. A chance for the community to come together to support the brothers, their family, and the overall cause, which was to raise funds to build a playground at a school in South Jersey for children with disabilities, in honor of the Gaudreau brothers. Gillian Kocher, who helped put on the event says, "This playground that they are building through the proceeds from this will be a kind of lasting impact. It will impact generations to come at Archbishop Damiano. I know that John and Matty really loved kids, they were personally involved in the school as well so, I think it really gives their family some comfort, that we can continue to do things that they would have done and do it in their honor."
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL players and fans rally in Gaudreau brothers' 5K as family turns grief into purpose
Thousands of people gathered at Washington Lake Park in Sewell, New Jersey, to honor John Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau. The two brothers tragically died in a bike accident in August 2024. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Named the Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run, the occasion paid tribute to their memories and raised funds for a deserving charity close to their hearts. Community Comes Together to Remember the Gaudreau Brothers Washington Lake Park in Sewell, New Jersey drew tens of thousands of visitors. Held in memory of John Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau, the event was the first-ever Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run and Family Day. Late August 2024 saw the deaths of the siblings in a sad accident. Riding bikes the day before their sister Katie Gaudreau's wedding, they were struck by a driver. The Gaudreau family and the hockey world were greatly impacted by the loss. More than 1,100 attendees in person and over 1,300 others virtually joined from throughout the United States, Canada, and other countries including Ireland and Sweden attended the event. NHL players who were close friends of the Gaudreau brothers also came to show their support. Brady Tkachuk, captain of the Ottawa Senators, attended along with Erik Gudbranson, Tony DeAngelo, Zach Aston-Reese, and Buddy Robinson. 'I think it speaks to them as a family,' Brady Tkachuk said at the event. 'Everybody loved being around them.' Also Read: A Sign from the Sky and a Legacy of Giving The night before the event, Jane Gaudreau, mother of John and Matthew, sat in their room and asked for a sign from her sons. The next morning, a rainbow appeared, just an hour before the sun came out. 'I was so relieved,' Jane said on Saturday. 'I was like, 'Well, there's my sign.'' The event not only honored the brothers, but also helped raise funds for a cause they cared about. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Jane and her daughter Kristen Gaudreau both work at Archbishop Damiano School. John and Matthew had supported the idea of building a new accessible playground there in memory of their grandmother Marie Gaudreau, who passed away in 2023 after 44 years of service at the school. Family friend Deb Vasutoro started the idea for the 5K to support the project. 'It was the perfect way to honor the boys and help the children,' she said. Reverend Allain Caparas from Gloucester Catholic High School, where the brothers played hockey as teens, spoke at the event. 'They're still making a difference,' he said. Thousands wore hockey gear and shared photos on social media from Columbus, Calgary, and beyond. Jane Gaudreau said she hopes to hold this event every year.
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Climate
- Toronto Star
Thousands take part in Gaudreau Family 5K walk and run in honor of brothers John and Matthew
SEWELL, N.J. (AP) — A few days after brothers John and Matthew Gaudreau died when they were struck by a driver while riding bicycles on the eve of their sister Katie's wedding, family friends were visiting parents Guy and Jane at their home during a rainstorm. Looking outside after the skies cleared, they saw a double rainbow that brought them some momentary peace. Since then, Jane Gaudreau had not gotten any signs she attributed to her sons, so she sat in their room Friday and asked them for some divine intervention to clear out bad weather in time for an event to honor their legacies. After a brief scare of a tornado watch the night before, a rainbow appeared Saturday morning about an hour before the sun came out for the inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run and Family Day.
