Lower than a 12 months after they tragically died, over 1,000 individuals gathered to honor the reminiscence of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. On Saturday morning, the inaugural Gaudreau Household 5K Stroll/Run and Household Day was held at Washington Lake Park in Southern New Jersey.
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau visited Washington Lake Park many instances as kids. It was proper across the nook from Hollydell Ice Enviornment, the place they started taking part in youth hockey as kids.
An estimated 1,100 individuals participated within the stroll in particular person with over 1,300 participating just about throughout the USA, Canada, and around the globe.
“I believe it speaks to them as a household, how shut they have been and the way all people beloved being round them,” Ottawa Senators star Brady Tkachuk stated, who was one in all a number of NHL gamers that attended Saturday’s occasion. “You simply see the assist from this neighborhood and from different gamers as properly which might be right here and traveled in. It simply says so much about Johnny, Matty, their legacy and this household as an entire, how a lot assist they’ve as a result of they’re such superb individuals.”
Tkachuk, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson, Blue Jackets ahead Zach Aston-Reese and New York Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo have been among the many NHL gamers in attendance on the charity occasion honoring the Gaudreau brothers, who each died after they have been struck and killed by a automotive in a bicycling accident final 12 months.
“Our household would not have missed this,” Gudbranson added. “Hockey’s a really tight neighborhood. It is nonetheless a tragedy. We miss the boys.”
The objective of the charity occasion was to boost cash for an accessible playground on the Archbishop Damiano Faculty in close by Westville, the place Jane Gaudreau and her daughter, Kristen, work. Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau had each volunteered on the Southern New Jersey college previously.
Archbishop Damiano Faculty is a nonprofit college that’s residence to 135 college students with disabilities. Nonetheless, the varsity was in dire want of a brand new playground.
“I would prefer to thank all people for coming,” Johnny and Matthew’s father, Man, stated after the race. “It actually means so much to Jane and the ladies and the household. We miss the boys, and it actually means so much for us to have you ever right here to honor my boys. Thanks.”
The Gaudreau household needs to make the charity occasion an annual occurence with future installments probably being held in Calgary and Columbus. Johnny Gaudreau performed for the Blue Jackets in his remaining two NHL seasons after spending the earlier 9 campaigns with the Calgary Flames.
Many individuals in attendance donned gear that paid tribute to the Gaudreau brothers, together with Tkachuk carrying a “Johnny Hockey” hoodie with a No. 13 on the again. The occasion additionally included an public sale of NHL memorabilia, which included signed jerseys from varied NHL gamers.
The Gaudreau household entered Saturday with $400,000 raised, and positively might’ve reached their $600,000 objective that was set previous to the occasion.
