Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Gaudreau’s Former Coach Reacts to Their Deaths

Jerry York, the previous coach of Columbus Blue Jackets participant Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau, is reacting to their deaths.

York described the brothers’ deaths as a “nightmare” in an interview with CNN on Friday, Aug. 30.

“This morning I bought woken up by one in all my former assistants, Mike Galvanar, who simply knowledgeable me of what occurred,” the previous Boston Faculty males’s hockey coach informed the outlet, including, “… I used to be simply beside myself.”

Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, died in a biking accident near their hometown of Salem County, New Jersey, on Thursday, Aug. 29, PEOPLE beforehand confirmed. They had been within the space to look as groomsmen at their sister’s marriage ceremony the next day.

York recalled extra reminiscences of the brothers and their household in his dialog with CNN, telling the outlet, “I really like the household … [They] got here to each recreation. To attempt to think about what their household goes by means of … it is simply so troublesome for me. However they’re a beautiful household.”

He then known as the brothers’ mother Jane and pa Man “Corridor of Fame dad and mom” who “had been all the time entrance and heart” at their matches. “[They] produced two sons that left a outstanding mark on Boston faculty college students, athletes and alumni. Simply terrific younger guys,” mirrored York. 

The previous coach additionally stated that Johnny and Matthew’s deaths have left everyone within the hockey neighborhood “shocked.”

“Everyone’s shocked from Olympic teammates, to Calgary teammates, to Columbus teammates, to all of Boston Faculty right here,” York informed CNN. “… ‘Johnny Hockey,’ as all of them fondly known as him, and his youthful brother Matt had been simply hockey individuals. They liked hockey.” 

The previous coach subsequent described the brothers as “outstanding” on the hockey pitch. He concluded, “God, I miss them already.”

Johnny and Matthew had been biking on Nation Route 551 North simply after 8 p.m. on Aug. 29 when a driver fatally hit them after making an attempt to go one other automotive, New Jersey State Police beforehand informed PEOPLE.

The motive force, Sean M. Higgins, was suspected to be drunk, and he was charged with two counts of loss of life by auto and arrested. An investigation is ongoing. 

The brothers performed at Boston Faculty earlier than Johnny went professional and was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2014. After eight seasons with the group, he signed a seven-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022.

Matthew, in the meantime, performed for a number of minor league groups, and within the final two years, he was head coach of their highschool group, Gloucester Catholic Excessive in New Jersey, per Elite Prospects.

In a press release on X (previously Twitter) on Friday, Aug. 30, the Blue Jackets wrote, “The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy.”

They added, “Johnny was not solely an important hockey participant, however extra considerably a loving husband, father, son, brother and buddy.”

Johnny is survived by his spouse, Meredith, and their two youngsters, daughter Noa, who turns 2 in October, and son Johnny, 7 months.

Matthew is survived by his spouse Madeline, who’s at present pregnant and anticipating their first child.