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Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau's heartbroken sister speaks out after NHL star and brother were killed the day before their wedding

Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau's heartbroken sister speaks out after NHL star and brother were killed the day before their wedding

Katie Gaudreau delivered a moving tribute to her big brothers, Columbus Blue Jackets stars Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau, following their tragic deaths when they were struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bicycles in Salem County, New Jersey last Thursday – one day before their wedding.

“To know these two was to love these two,” she wrote on Instagram on Monday, attaching a photo of her family. “I simply don't have the words to express the bond my family had.”

“The whole world knows that without Matty there would have been no John and without John there would have been no Matty. The absolute best big brothers a little girl could ask for.”

“This will never be a goodbye post because I will never stop saying your names and honoring you both. I will do the best I can to take care of Mommy, Daddy, Kristen, Mer and Madeline, your babies.

Katie and her fiancé, hockey player Devin Joyce, have canceled their wedding, which was scheduled to take place on Friday, August 30, in Gloucester City, New Jersey, Page Six confirmed.

Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were to serve as best men and their other sister, Kristen Venello, was to be maid of honor.

Sean Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, New Jersey, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter.

According to police, Higgins tried to overtake two slow-moving vehicles and hit the siblings from behind while they were riding their bicycles.


Instagram / @kgaudreau13

Johnny leaves behind his wife Meredith, his children Noa, almost 2, and Johnny, six months.

Meredith shared a series of tributes on Instagram, including photos of her family.


Follow the NY Post’s coverage of the tragic death of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau at the age of 31:


Matthew's wife, Madeline Gaudreau, is pregnant with the couple's first child, “Baby Tripp,” due in December, her sister wrote in a GoFundMe post.

The GoFundMe campaign surpassed $500,000 late Monday morning.


Katie Gaudreau (center) with her deceased brothers in a photo in her Instagram tribute.
Katie Gaudreau (center) with her deceased brothers in a photo in her Instagram tribute. @gaudreau13/Instagram

Johnny played nine seasons with the Calgary Flames before signing a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets in July 2022.

Matthew was also a hockey player and most recently played for the Worcester Railers.

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