Current:Home > InvestOnline fundraiser for Matthew Gaudreau’s widow raises more than $500K as the sports world mourns -StockHorizon
Online fundraiser for Matthew Gaudreau’s widow raises more than $500K as the sports world mourns
View
Date:2025-04-14 06:42:06
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! (536)
Related
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Ex-NJ attorney general testifies Sen. Bob Menendez confronted him twice over a pending criminal case
- Robinhood to acquire Bitstamp crypto exchange in $200 million deal
- Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan Addresses Fan Theory Sparked by Hidden Post-it Note
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Chiefs cancel OTA session after player suffers 'medical emergency' in team meeting
- Proof Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke's Relationship Was More Toxic Than Summer House Fans Thought
- Records tumble across Southwest US as temperatures soar well into triple digits
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- NCAA panel sets up schools having sponsor logos on football fields for regular home games
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Russian warships to arrive in Havana next week, say Cuban officials, as military exercises expected
- Utah NHL team down to six names after first fan survey. Which ones made the cut?
- Ghost Army survivor reflects on WWII deception operation: We were good
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- What’s the firearms form at the center of Hunter Biden’s gun trial? AP Explains
- Car ownership is getting more costly even as vehicle prices dip. Here's why.
- Samoan author accused of killing Samoan writer who was aunt of former US politician Tulsi Gabbard
Recommendation
Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
Save 62% on Athleta, 50% on IT Cosmetics, 60% on Pottery Barn & 95 More of This Weekend's Best Deals
Kids coming of age with social media offer sage advice for their younger peers
Mike Tyson’s fight with Jake Paul has been rescheduled for Nov. 15 after Tyson’s health episode
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
These Wheel of Fortune Secrets May Make Your Head Spin
There are thousands of tons of plastic floating in the oceans. One group trying to collect it just got a boost.
A Texas county removed 17 books from its libraries. An appeals court says eight must be returned.