Mourners pay tribute to the lives of their hockey brothers

“They were playing this tennis match,” Penna recalled. “'I love you,' 'No, I love you.' They must have said it to each other 19 times. That was the conversation.

“I saw a love in these two brothers that I did not feel for my own brother. Their love was of incredible intensity.”

Penna asked those present at the church to look around and see how many people had made the journey to pay their respects, describing it as a source of comfort for parents Guy and Jane.

“By the overwhelming presence and the overwhelming number of people here today, they are sending you the message loud and clear that John and Matthew's lives mattered, that they were noticed on this earth, that they were loved on this earth and that they were valued on this earth,” Penna said.

“This strong crowd wants you to know that they are here to tell all of you that they love you too, they have your back, and they are here to support you in our loss.”

Both brothers’ widows gave eulogies.

Meredith Gaudreau spoke about her husband Johnny's special bond with two teammates. Sean Monahan played with Johnny in Calgary and signed with Columbus in the offseason and was set to work with him again this year. Kevin Hayes was Johnny's teammate at BC and is a member of the Penguins organization.

“You've both known John longer than I have, which means you made him the man I fell in love with,” Meredith said. “He looked up to you both on and off the ice. You're his brothers, which means you're my brothers, too.”

“Thank you for being there for me when you too are suffering such a great loss.”

Kevin and his brother Jimmy, who also played for BC, often hosted Johnny and Matt at their family home in Dorchester. Jimmy died unexpectedly in August 2021.

“Kevin, you and your family were an important part of John's upbringing in this crazy NHL life,” Meredith said. “He looked up to you and loved being around your brother and sisters. I think the summers he spent with the Hayes reminded him of his own family, so I know he appreciated that. The friendship and bond you built despite all the distance is so strong and admirable.”

“You went through so much and you were always there for John no matter what. You are a great person through and through and John loved you so much.”

Madeline Gaudreau started dating Matthew when they were both in high school, and the two continued their relationship when he went to BC.

“Matty was so excited to play alongside his brother, something he never took for granted,” said Madeline. “The bond between Matt and John is something that cannot be described in even the most beautiful words, pictures or videos unless you know them personally. They were inseparable. They slept in the same room until college and neither of them wanted that to change.

“John took care of Matty, and Matty took care of John. To know them both was to truly love them. It was impossible not to fall in love with them.

“Meredith said it best. 'You don't hear one name without the other.' They were so incredibly proud of each other and it comforts me to know that they will stay together forever, just as they always have been.”

She ended her speech by urging people not to drive under the influence of alcohol. The brothers were killed by a man who had allegedly been drinking.

“Call someone. Please don't let any other family go through this pain. The loss of Matty and John will forever leave a void in the family, their close friends and the community. However, their legacy will live on in the lives of everyone they touched – their children, their wives, their parents, their siblings.

“God really gave us the best two guys. Linemates forever. I love you so much. Matthew Ryan.”

A GoFundMe campaign to support Matthew's widow, Madeline, and the baby she is expecting in December has surpassed $645,000, with nearly 9,000 people donating, including many NHL players and their families.

“He didn't make the millions that Johnny did, and he doesn't have a pension from the players' association,” said Michael Myers of the ECHL's Worcester Railers, for whom Matthew played two seasons. “It's important that the hockey community recognizes that and steps up to help Matthew's family.”

Hockey East, where BC plays, was scheduled to hold its annual media day on Monday but was canceled because of the funeral.

“Johnny and Matty Gaudreau were pillars of the hockey community and the Hockey East family continues to mourn their loss,” Commissioner Steve Metcalf said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with their family, friends, loved ones and those touched by these two extraordinary individuals during this difficult time.”

A private viewing for the family took place on Sunday.

According to police, the brothers were driving on County Route 551 – a two-lane highway in a rural area – in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, at 8:19 p.m. on Aug. 29 when they were struck. According to a criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press, the driver, Sean M. Higgins, told a police officer responding to the crash that he had consumed five or six beers before the crash and admitted to drinking alcohol while driving. He failed a breathalyzer test, the complaint states.