New York
Grieving for 'Johnny Hockey' and His Brother: 'Why did this have to occur?'
The night before their sister’s wedding, John and Matty Gaudreau were fatally struck by a car while riding bicycles near their family home in rural New Jersey.
Updated 2024-Oct-04 09:34
Hockey sticks and flowers form a makeshift memorial at the side of a road.
Ware the former county commissioner and baseball coach described Mr. Higgins as a wonderful person who served as captain of the Woodstown High School baseball team while Mr.He also was familiar with the Gaudreaus having assisted in getting John inducted into the Salem Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.A remarkable family Mr. Higgins attended a short court hearing through a video call from the Salem County Correctional Facility.
In an email lawyer Matthew Portella refused to provide further details but mentioned that the incident was a tragedy causing emotional distress to many.
They are holding a trophy. John has one arm around Matt. Matthew Gaudreau, who is wearing a suit, stands with his brother, John, who is wearing a Boston College jersey.
Meanwhile at the crash site memorial Harry Fraint Jr. A nearby Carneys Point heavy equipment operator arrived on his bicycle.
He claimed to have never met the Gaudreaus but did remember watching Mr. Higgins play baseball years ago.
He recounted getting emotional upon hearing about the deaths of the brothers. He then pushed away to proceed on his journey down that road.
However he ended up circling back. Looking at the flowers and hockey gear on the lawn he pressed the bell on his bicycle.
On the narrow shoulder of County Route 551 a two lane road in the heart of rural Salem County N. J.A memorial appears suddenly among the fields of corn and soybeans. Bunched together are bouquets of flowers miniature flags and dozens of hockey sticks: an incongruous signpost to a tragic accident that shattered two extended families and left a community bereft.
It just couldn’t be any worse said Lee Ware a local farmer who was once commissioner for Salem County and a local high school baseball coach of 46 years.
He knows both families. I’ve lived here my whole life and I know everyone in the county feels the same way.
This is a rough one. On Aug. 29 about an hour after the sun had set John Gaudreau an All Star forward in the National Hockey League and his younger brother Matthew Gaudreau a former professional hockey player and coach at nearby Gloucester Catholic High School were struck and killed by a driver as they went for a bike ride near their parents’ home.
They were preparing for their sister’s wedding in Philadelphia the next day. John was 31 married with two children one born in 2022 and another in February.
Matthew was 29. His wife is expecting their first child in December.
The distance from Oldman s Township to Woodstown is approximately 10 miles slightly increased if you take the route that passes by the Cowtown Rodeo which is recognized as the oldest weekly professional rodeo in the United States.
People in this area take pride in the tough farming lifestyle blending Philly accents with Jersey strength.
The residents take pride in the Gaudreaus and frequently bring up Jonathan Taylor the standout running back for the Indianapolis Colts who was raised in Salem.
Nearly everyone in the area is familiar with the Gaudreau family and a lot of people are also acquainted with Mr.Higgins most recent job was at Gaudenzia a substance abuse treatment center.
