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Johnny Gaudreau's sister Katie shares heartwarming 12-year-old throwback picture with late brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau
On Aug. 29, Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew tragically died after being struck by a drunk driver. They were riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, when a Jeep hit them. Johnny, 31, played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Matthew, 29, had played pro hockey before becoming a coach. The driver, Sean Higgins, was arrested and charged with two counts of death by auto.
Months later, Johnny and Matthew's sister, Katie Gaudreau, shared a heartwarming story on her Instagram account. She posted a 12-year-old picture of her, Johnny, Matthew and their sister, Kristen Venello, standing in front of a Christmas tree. The photo captured a happier time in their lives.
Katie also shared an Instagram post on Sept. 2, expressing how close they were as siblings and how much she would miss them. She vowed to take care of their parents and family. In her post, Katie wrote:
“To know these two was to love these two. There are absolutely no words I have to express the bond my family shared. The entire world knows there would never have been a John without Matty or Matty without John.
"The absolute best big brothers a little girl could have asked for. This will never be a goodbye post because I will never stop saying your names and honoring you both. I’ll take the best care of mom, dad, Kristen, Mer, Madeline, and your babies.”
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau played for Gloucester Catholic High School and later went to Boston College. Johnny, known as “Johnny Hockey,” was loved by fans, while Matthew played pro hockey briefly before coaching.
Katie previously shared a photo from 2006 featuring Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew
The tragic deaths of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew on Aug. 29 have left their family heartbroken. To honor their memory, we've seen several tributes from the Gaudreau family sharing special moments.
One such moment came in the first week of December when Katie reposted a 2006 Christmas photo on Instagram. The photo, originally posted by their eldest sister, Kristen, shows the Gaudreau siblings and Kristen's husband posing with Santa in front of a decorated tree. In the photo, Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau are dressed in casual holiday clothes, while Katie and Kristen are in festive attire.
Previously, Johnny's mother, Jane Gaudreau, thanked a fan who made a video tribute to Johnny's hockey career. The video included clips from Johnny's childhood and his time in the NHL. Jane especially liked the part where Johnny, at ages 8 and 18, did the same hockey move behind the net.
In honor of Johnny Gaudreau, the Calgary Flames held a tribute during their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 3, as both teams wore Johnny's No. 13 jerseys during warmups. A video celebrating his career played on the arena screens. The Gaudreau family was present for the ceremonial puck drop. After the game, Johnny was named the First Star of the Night.
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