As the NHL nears the start of the 2024-25 season, the league has ensured the legacy and memory of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau will be recognized.
The NHL announced on Monday that all 32 teams will honour the brothers with special helmet decals to start the campaign.
Johnny and brother Matthew were killed Aug. 29 in New Jersey when police said they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding. The driver who police say struck them has been charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.
The decals honouring the brothers will be worn by all players in all games through to Oct. 24. The stickers will feature the letter G for Gaudreau with No. 13 for Johnny and No. 21 for Matthew on the left and right sides.
The New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres will be the first to wear the decals when they open the 2024-25 season Friday at O2 Arena in Prague in the 2024 NHL Global Series. The North American slate of games will begin on Oct. 8.
“I think it’s an incredible tribute to an incredibly sad situation,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said, per NHL.com. “We as a league, we as a team, have to try to honour these guys for what they did for the game.”
Johnny, 31, was in the NHL for 11 seasons, spending nine years with the Calgary Flames before joining the Columbus Blue Jackets for the next two. Matthew, 29, spent five seasons in the AHL, ECHL and overseas in Sweden.
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