Johnny, Matthew Gaudreau to Be Honored by USA Hockey With Helmet Decal

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVOctober 3, 2024

Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

USA Hockey revealed a helmet decal honoring Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau on Thursday that will be worn by United States national hockey team players during the upcoming season.

The sticker features the Gaudreau name, along with Johnny’s No. 13 jersey number and Matthew’s No. 21:

USA Hockey @usahockeyA helmet decal honoring the memory of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau will be worn by all U.S. national teams this season.

The brothers were killed on Aug. 29 when they were struck by a vehicle while riding their bikes in Carneys Point, New Jersey. Their deaths occurred one day before they were set to groomsmen in their sister’s wedding.

A prosecutor said Sean M. Higgins, who was the driver of the vehicle, had a blood-alcohol level of .087 percent at the time of the accident, which is above the legal limit of .08 percent. He was subsequently charged with two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Per ESPN’s Kristen Shilton, USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher released a statement on the decals, saying: “Johnny and Matthew, along with their families, will forever be a part of the USA Hockey family. This is a small way to not only honor their memory, but help keep their wonderful spirit for our great game and life in general in the forefront.”

Johnny, who died at age 31, was among the best American NHL players of the past decade, and he ranks 29th in career points among players born in the U.S.

In 763 career regular-season games with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, Gaudreau recorded 243 goals and 500 assists for 743 points.

Known by the nickname “Johnny Hockey,” Gaudreau was a seven-time NHL All-Star and one-time Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner as the league’s most gentlemanly player.

Gaudreau also had history with Team USA, representing the United States in the World Junior Championships and World Championship. He won a gold medal at the 2013 World Juniors and bronze at the 2018 World Championships.

Matthew, who was the younger brother at 29, played collegiately at Boston College like Johnny, and also went on to play professionally.

He appeared in 21 career AHL games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Stockton Heat, and also played in 127 ECHL games with the Worcester Railers and Reading Royals.

According to Shilton, the Gaudreau decals will not only be worn by the United States national teams, but also by two teams in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and both the men’s and women’s USA sled hockey teams.