NHL players and fans rally in Gaudreau brothers' 5K as family turns grief into purpose

Thousands of people gathered at Washington Lake Park in Sewell, New Jersey, to honor John Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau. The two brothers tragically died in a bike accident in August 2024.

Named the Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run, the occasion paid tribute to their memories and raised funds for a deserving charity close to their hearts.

Community Comes Together to Remember the Gaudreau Brothers

Washington Lake Park in Sewell, New Jersey drew tens of thousands of visitors. Held in memory of John Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau, the event was the first-ever Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run and Family Day. Late August 2024 saw the deaths of the siblings in a sad accident. Riding bikes the day before their sister Katie Gaudreau's wedding, they were struck by a driver.

The Gaudreau family and the hockey world were greatly impacted by the loss.

More than 1,100 attendees in person and over 1,300 others virtually joined from throughout the United States, Canada, and other countries including Ireland and Sweden attended the event.NHL players who were close friends of the Gaudreau brothers also came to show their support. Brady Tkachuk, captain of the Ottawa Senators, attended along with Erik Gudbranson, Tony DeAngelo, Zach Aston-Reese, and Buddy Robinson.

“I think it speaks to them as a family,” Brady Tkachuk said at the event. “Everybody loved being around them.” Also Read: Tragedy And Triumph: The Gaudreau Brothers’ Enduring Impact On Youth Hockey

A Sign from the Sky and a Legacy of Giving

The night before the event, Jane Gaudreau, mother of John and Matthew, sat in their room and asked for a sign from her sons. The next morning, a rainbow appeared, just an hour before the sun came out.“I was so relieved,” Jane said on Saturday. “I was like, ‘Well, there’s my sign.’”The event not only honored the brothers, but also helped raise funds for a cause they cared about.

Jane and her daughter Kristen Gaudreau both work at Archbishop Damiano School. John and Matthew had supported the idea of building a new accessible playground there in memory of their grandmother Marie Gaudreau, who passed away in 2023 after 44 years of service at the school.Family friend Deb Vasutoro started the idea for the 5K to support the project. “It was the perfect way to honor the boys and help the children,” she said.Reverend Allain Caparas from Gloucester Catholic High School, where the brothers played hockey as teens, spoke at the event. “They’re still making a difference,” he said.Thousands wore hockey gear and shared photos on social media from Columbus, Calgary, and beyond. Jane Gaudreau said she hopes to hold this event every year.