NHL Players to Honor Johnny, Matthew Gaudreau with Special Helmet Decal

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 30, 2024

Zak Krill/NHLI via Getty Images

All 32 NHL teams will wear a helmet decal to honor Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau to open the 2024-25 season.

The decal design includes the letter “G” along with the Gaudreaus’ jersey numbers.

B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIceEvery NHL team will wear this helmet decal through October 24 to honor Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau ❤️

(via @drosennhl) pic.twitter.com/xGkqgnZlIj

The Gaudreau brothers were killed in August when they were struck by a driver while bicycling in New Jersey.

The driver, Sean M. Higgins, has been charged with two counts of death by auto and faces charges of reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. Prosecutors allege he had a blood-alcohol level of .087, above the legal limit (.08) in the state.

Johnny Gaudreau, an 11-year veteran in the NHL, was approaching his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had been with the Calgary Flames for nine years before signing with Columbus.

Like his older brother, Matthew Gaudreau competed collegiately at Boston College. After playing professionally, he eventually returned to his high school alma mater, Gloucester Catholic, as its hockey coach.

During their funeral, Matthew’s wife, Madeline, highlighted in her eulogy how close the brothers were.

“The bond that Matt and John shared is something that, unless you knew them personally, even the most perfect words, pictures, or videos cannot adequately describe it,” she said. “They were attached at the hip. They slept in the same room up until college, and neither of them ever wanted that to change. … To know both of them was to truly love them. It was impossible not to fall in love with them. Meredith said it best: You do not hear one name without the other. They were so extremely proud of each other.”

The NHL season gets underway Oct. 8. The tribute to the Gaudreaus will remain on every helmet through Oct. 24, which is when the final team has its home opener. The Blue Jackets previously unveiled a similar decal they plan to wear on their helmets for the entire year.