Johnny Gaudreau's sister Katie reshares nostalgic 13-year-old throwback photo from brother Matthew's birthday

Modified Dec 27, 2024 21:08 GMT

Late Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau's sister, Katie Gaudreau, on Friday, shared a 13-year-old throwback photo of her family celebrating her brother’s birthday.

The image shows Matthew sitting at a kitchen counter with a birthday cake in front of him. He is wearing a gray beanie and a black hoodie with “Gloucester Catholic Lady Rams” written on it. Matthew looks calm and focused on the cake, ready to blow out the candles.

Katie and their parents stand behind Matthew, all smiling warmly. Johnny Gaudreau's father, Guy, is wearing an orange t-shirt that says “Three Star Champion,” while Katie and their mother are dressed in red.

The kitchen has wooden cabinets and a refrigerator covered with photos. A sign reading “Matthew Gaudreau” is pinned to a door, adding to the birthday vibe. This was snapped 13 years ago, as displayed at the top of the image.

The memory comes after a tragic event involving the Gaudreau brothers. On Aug. 29, Johnny and Matthew were killed in a biking accident in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. The brothers, ages 31 and 29, were home for Katie’s wedding. They were going to serve as groomsmen at the event.

The accident happened on Country Route 551 North around 8 p.m. A driver, suspected of being under the influence, hit the brothers while trying to pass another car. New Jersey State Police identified the driver as Sean M. Higgins, who has been charged with two counts of death.

Johnny Gaudreau’s sister, Katie, previously shared old family Christmas photos

Johnny Gaudreau’s younger sister, Katie, previously shared old family Christmas photos on Instagram. The pictures included her late brothers, Johnny and Matthew, along with their parents, Guy and Jane, and sister, Kristen. The photos showed the family posing by the Christmas tree.

Katie added captions, like “Love them!” and reflected on missing loved ones during Christmas. This will be the family’s first Christmas without Johnny and Matthew.

Katie also shared a signed childhood jersey from her brothers’ team and a funny memory of her and Johnny in Princeton. Tributes to the brothers continue, including one by the Calgary Flames. The team honored them with a video montage, a ceremonial puck drop, and a memorial bench made from hockey sticks left by fans.