The funeral arrangements for NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, have been finalized. The ceremony will be held on Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, the individual responsible for their tragic deaths remains in jail and is awaiting his next court appearance.
The Gaudreau brothers, who tragically lost their lives last week after being struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding their bicycles in New Jersey, will be remembered during the memorial service. The service will be streamed on the website of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the NHL team for which Johnny Gaudreau played.
The driver, Sean M. Higgins, attended his first pretrial hearing virtually on Thursday and it was decided to postpone the hearing until September 13th to allow the attorneys more time to prepare. Higgins, who is currently being held at a Salem County jail, is facing charges of two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of an open container, and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Attorneys Matthew Portella and Richard Klineburger III have been hired to represent Higgins, and they released a statement acknowledging the tragedy and the emotional turmoil it has caused. However, they stated that it is too early in the legal process to make any statements outside of the courtroom.
The funeral is expected to draw countless members of the hockey community, including the Columbus Blue Jackets team and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. It will be a large ceremony held in honor of two young men, with one being a professional hockey player. Due to the expected crowd, school at St. Mary Magdalen will be closed on Monday to ensure the safety of all individuals involved.
In the days following their tragic deaths, fans and current and former players paid tribute to Johnny and Matthew through candlelight vigils held in Columbus, Ohio, and Calgary, Alberta. The crowds gathered outside arenas, showing their support and love for the Gaudreau brothers, as the slideshow displayed cherished moments from their lives, filled with happiness, love, and success in hockey.
Reflecting on his 15 years of representing the Gaudreau brothers, their longtime agent, Lewis Gross, expressed his deep admiration and the impact they had on him. Despite the sorrow, he pledged to continue honoring their memory for the rest of his life, knowing the true meaning of family through their presence in his life.
In lieu of flowers, obituaries have directed contributions to the John & Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, cared for by Gross at Sports Professional Management in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
During the remarks about the upcoming 2024 class of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Pat Kelleher, USA Hockey’s executive director, offered his thoughts and prayers for the Gaudreau family. Kevin Stevens, one of the inductees, played at Boston College three decades before the Gaudreau brothers. Stevens expressed his deep sadness over the tragic events of the past week and emphasized the importance of coming together to support each other during such difficult times.
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