Gaudreaus' funeral set for Monday; alleged drunk driver remains jailed

 

[September 06, 2024]  The funeral for former NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who were killed last week by a suspected drunk driver in New Jersey, will be held Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pa.

The driver, Sean M. Higgins, remains in jail after the judge postponed the hearing to Sept. 13 to provide more time for the attorneys to prepare their cases. Higgins appeared virtually on Thursday at his first pretrial hearing.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, one of the teams Johnny Gaudreau starred for during his stellar 11-year NHL career, announced they will stream the service on their website.

The Gaudreau brothers were killed Thursday night in New Jersey when they were struck while riding bicycles not far from their family home. The Gaudreau family had gathered in Salem County to attend the wedding of the men's sister, Katie, which had been scheduled for Friday. The event was canceled. Johnny was 31; Matthew was 29.

Johnny Gaudreau played parts of 11 NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames and took part in seven All-Star games. At Boston College, he won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top player in 2013-14, and Matthew was his teammate that season.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is among several members of the hockey community expected to attend the service, along with the entire Blue Jackets team, according to general manager Don Waddell.

On Wednesday night, fans and current and former players in the two cities where Johnny Gaudreau played in the NHL gathered in remembrance with candlelight vigils.

Outside the Blue Jackets' arena, a 13-minute, 21-second silent remembrance was held while a slideshow displayed photos of the brothers throughout their lives, from childhood to their teenage years and at Boston College, where the brothers played together. The slideshow also contained footage of them playing pro hockey and included their marriages and the baptisms of their children.

Thousands gathered outside the Flames' arena as well, chanting "Johnny! Johnny!" in honor of the player known throughout the sport as "Johnny Hockey."

Obituaries released on Thursday directed donations to be made to John & Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, care of Gross at Sports Professional Management in Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

Higgins, 43, is being held at a Salem County (N.J.) jail and is charged with two counts of death by auto. He's also charged with reckless driving, consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle and possession of an open container.

Higgins hired attorneys Matthew Portella and Richard Klineburger III to represent him.

"This is a tragedy involving a great deal of emotion and impacting many individuals," they said in a statement. "It is too early in the stages of the legal process to make any out of court statements."

--Field Level Media

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