Current:Home > InvestOnline fundraiser for Matthew Gaudreau’s widow raises more than $500K as the sports world mourns -GrowthSphere Strategies
Online fundraiser for Matthew Gaudreau’s widow raises more than $500K as the sports world mourns
View
Date:2025-04-17 15:52:38
More tributes are pouring in from around the hockey community after the deaths of NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matthew, who were killed last week by a suspected drunken driver while riding their bikes in their home state of New Jersey.
Jaromir Jagr posted a video Tuesday on social media of Gaudreau assisting on his 766th and final goal in the league when they were teammates with the Calgary Flames in 2018.
“It was a beautiful pass above all,” Jagr wrote in Czech. “Unfortunately, life can be sometimes unbelievably cruel. Thank you, Johnny Gaudreau, that you were here and you gave hope to all those guys by your unbelievable performances that they can succeed at the world class level in the NHL as you managed to do. My sincerely condolences to your family. R.I.P. to you and your brother.”
Donations also continued to pile up to support Matthew’s widow, Madeline, who is pregnant with the couple’s first child, due in December. A GoFundMe set up by Madeline’s sister Holland Korbitz and verified by the online fundraising company raised more than $500,000 as of noon EDT Tuesday.
Dozens of current and former players from around the league, or their significant others, are listed among the more than 7,600 donors, including $3,000 from the family of New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin and $2,013 from Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars, for a total of $546,172 — well beyond the initial $30,000 goal.
Cliff Rucker, owner of the ECHL’s Worcester Railers HC for whom Matthew played two seasons from 2017-19, is listed as the top donor at $10,000.
“Maddy, the entire Railers HC family stands shoulder to shoulder with you during this incomprehensibly difficult time for you and your loved ones,” Rucker commented. “You and Matty will always be part of our Railer family, and I hope you can feel the love and support we are sending your way.”
The Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road in Oldmans Township on Thursday night when a man driving an SUV in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind about 8 p.m., according to New Jersey State Police. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.
No information about a funeral or memorial services, public or private, was immediately available.
“Janet, myself and our entire family are devastated at this senseless tragedy,” Wayne Gretzky posted on social media over Labor Day weekend. “We are sending our love, thoughts and prayers to the Gaudreau family. We lost two great young men who were loved and a huge presence both on and off the ice. Johnny and Matthew, you will always be remembered and missed.”
Their deaths on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia transcended hockey. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Wischusen offered somber words about Johnny and Matthew during ESPN’s college football broadcast of the game Monday night between Florida State and Boston College, the school the Gaudreau brothers attended and played hockey together at for one season a decade ago.
“The entire National Hockey League, as well as the Boston College community and so many others, were devastated Friday when we learned of the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau,” Wischusen said. “Our hearts are shattered, and we send every good thought and prayer to their wives, Johnny Gaudreau’s young children, Matthew’s child on the way and all of their family and friends.”
___
Associated Press writer Karel Janicek in Prague contributed to this report.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
veryGood! (734)
Related
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Venice Lookback: When ‘Joker’ took the festival, and skeptics, by surprise
- US Open: No. 1 Jannik Sinner gets past Tommy Paul to set up a quarterfinal against Daniil Medvedev
- Coco Gauff's US Open defeat shows she has much work to do to return to Grand Slam glory
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- The presidential campaigns brace for an intense sprint to Election Day
- South Carolina Is Considered a Model for ‘Managed Retreat’ From Coastal Areas Threatened by Climate Change
- Russian missile strike kills 41 people and wounds 180 in Ukrainian city of Poltava, Zelenskyy says
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- Florida State upset by Boston College at home, Seminoles fall to 0-2 to start season
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Heat wave to bake Southwest; temperatures could soar as high as 120 degrees
- Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Chestnut sets record in winning hot dog eating rematch
- Kara Welsh Case: Man Arrested After Gymnast Dies During Shooting
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- Murder on Music Row: An off-key singer with $10K to burn helped solve a Nashville murder
- NFL hot seat rankings: Mike McCarthy, Nick Sirianni among coaches already on notice
- Russian missile strike kills 41 people and wounds 180 in Ukrainian city of Poltava, Zelenskyy says
Recommendation
Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr. share sweet photo for wedding anniversary
Suspect arrested in killing of gymnastics champion at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Team USA's Rebecca Hart, Fiona Howard win gold in Paralympics equestrian
2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
Fantasy football 2024 draft rankings: PPR and non-PPR
You Have 24 Hours To Get 50% Off Ashley Graham’s Self-Tanner, Madison LeCroy’s Eye Cream & $7 Ulta Deals
A man is killed and an officer shot as police chase goes from Illinois to Indiana and back