A legacy of hope and laughter for Gaudreau brothers as family, friends and hockey community grieve

DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

Published: May 12, 2025

WESTVILLE, N.J. (AP) — The family called him John. It wasn’t until John Gaudreau played for Boston College that he picked up the “Johnny Hockey” nickname that followed him through 11 seasons in the NHL.
His mother, Jane, gleefully recalled the “Johnny Hockey” T-shirts and sing-song chants BC fans bestowed on their beloved wizard on the ice. At home in New Jersey, younger brother Matthew, who also played hockey for Boston College, and sisters Kristen and Katie couldn’t help but tease their brother with the nickname as his popularity and All-Star career grew through stops in Calgary and Columbus.
Take one night during the NHL Awards in Las Vegas, just one family story out of thousands of favorites, when Gaudreau tried to keep a low public profile on a family outing. Katie wasn’t having it out on the Strip, shouting for all to hear, “Johnny! Johnny Hockey!”
“I can see John’s face getting redder and redder and redder,” Jane Gaudreau said with a laugh. “You walk down the street and no one knows who you are until Katie started making this whole big thing.”
Everything was fine for the family when they gathered last August for Katie’s wedding. John and Matt were the groomsmen and Kristen the maid of honor. What happened next, the typhoon of shock and grief that rippled from New Jersey through the heart of the hockey community, has been well-documented over the last eight months.
The night before the wedding, John, 31, and Matt, 29, died after they were hit by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in the Delaware River country south of Philadelphia, leaving a family forever shattered, with not enough time to ever fully pick up all the pieces.
They try.
From births to hockey tributes, through Instagram pages dotted with photos from the family scrapbook and a new foundation, to a playground fundraising effort at the family’s beloved school, the Gaudreaus have pushed through dark days when even getting out of bed seemed impossible. They pull through, pull together, just as they did as a family of six in South Jersey, and try to focus on a simple mantra: Live their lives to the fullest in honor of Matt and John.
There is more hardship ahead and dark days are going to come and go. The driver charged with killing the brothers, a man prosecutors described as having a history of alleged road rage and aggressive driving, still faces trial.
But as Jane Gaudreau details her dream of a new, adaptive playground for the special education students at the school where she works, it’s the good times that stir the most memories. The stories lift the spirits of Jane, husband Guy and countless friends and teammates who went through their first hockey season in decades without two men who gave so much to their growing families and to the game.
“It’s great to keep their memories alive,” said their sister, Kristen Venello, who rocks her Blue Jackets hoodie as a speech assistant at Archbishop Damiano School. “It is sad. But you think about all the good things they did and that’s all you can think about. And how much they can help us still.”
The project
Archbishop Damiano School was founded in 1968 for children with Down syndrome and now provides services for 125 students with special needs from ages 3 to 21. Jane Gaudreau’s brother attended the school and their mother worked there for 44 years. Jane was hired in 1984 and is still a finance associate there. Kristen, the oldest daughter, has taught at the school for almost two decades. Katie used to assist with the kids when she could and the two Gaudreau boys volunteered at the school when they weren’t playing hockey.
In death, they can perhaps leave a permanent legacy at Damiano outside family and hockey.
Kelsie Snow lost her husband, Chris, a former assistant general manager with the Calgary Flames, in 2023 to Lou Gehrig’s disease. She called Jane with a suggestion on how to navigate life through perpetual grief: Keep busy. Find a project. Jane and Guy embraced the idea and searched for the right one, until they realized the answer was right there at Archbishop Damiano.
The Gaudreaus and the staff at Archbishop Damiano threw themselves into fundraising for a modern playground that allows for everything from basic wheelchair accessibility to ramps and transfer platforms for the students. The Gaudreau Family 5K set for May 31 is expected to bring needed cash to the initiative launched by principal Michele McCloskey in 2020.
“I know the boys would be proud of us,” Jane said. “Both boys loved children, that’s why we thought the playground would be perfect.”
The Gaudreaus have another, more enduring project ahead of them as doting grandparents. Both widows have given birth since their husbands died. Meredith, who revealed during her tearful eulogy for John in August that she was pregnant, gave birth in April to the couple’s third child, Carter Michael Gaudreau. Madeline delivered her and Matty’s first baby, Tripp Matthew Gaudreau, in December.
Jane laughs when she describes how much the new additions resemble their fathers. Tripp has light hair like his dad; Carter looks like big sister Noa, and they both look like John.
“My husband keeps saying this,” Jane said, “‘I think God sent us John and Matty back.”
The road ahead
Guy and Jane, married 42 years, almost never go out to dinner, overwhelmed by feelings of guilt over enjoying themselves, and those emotions also run deep with Katie. She told her mom, yes, she wanted to marry her fiancé, Devin Joyce, but wasn’t sure a big wedding was the way to go. Jane said she simply told her there was no wrong decision, but to let the rage and sadness settle and take as much time as necessary make a decision.
The couple eventually rescheduled their wedding for July 11. Katie wrote on her Instagram post, “I guess this year has taught me to celebrate our love everyday, every minute.”
“You know the boys, they’ll be there with us that day,” Jane said. “They would want you to have fun.”
Jane added with resolve, “This guy already took two of the most important things away from us. Don’t let him take away your wedding.”
A legacy of laughter
The 5K has filled its allotment of 1,000 runners for race day at a New Jersey park but anyone can contribute from home as a virtual participant. More than 700 people have already signed up, from New Jersey to Canada to Ireland, eager to help the cause, which includes an online memorabilia auction that stretches beyond hockey, with all proceeds donated toward the playground effort and its $600,000 goal.
The current playground doesn’t meet the needs of its students in its current shape, there are gaping holes in the turf and the swings and slides were not designed for children with disabilities. If the goal is met, the school hopes to break ground this fall and complete the project next spring.
It seems trite to call it a silver lining but the family has searched in vain to find some meaning, some good out of the senseless deaths.
So they’ll run.
For John. For Matt. For a cause the boys so robustly supported in life.
“It’s not the way I’d want to build the playground, of course,” Jane said. “I tend to believe they’ll be up there, being able to listen to the children’s laughter. They’ll just really love the fact that the children will have a playground to play in.”

[Back]

LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) recorded a double, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (17-32, 8-13 AE) dropped the home finale to the Boston College Eagles (25-26), 5-0, on Sunday afternoon. 

Sophomore Ryan Strand (Goffstown, N.H.) also added a double, while four other River Hawks recorded a hit. 

Redshirt junior Brendan Holland (North Andover, Mass.) started on the mound, going 3.0 innings with one strikeout and one earned run. Freshman Nolan Geisler (Bayonne, N.J.) went 3.0 innings, striking out one batter without allowing a run. 

Although the River Hawks got a quick first out to open the game, the Eagles struck early, using a single and a pair of stolen bases to put a runner on third, before a fielder’s choice drove the run in, putting the Eagles on top, 1-0. Holland locked in though, not allowing another base runner over the next two innings to keep Boston College from extending the lead. Meanwhile, looking to plate the tying run, UMass Lowell recorded a hit in each of the first three innings, highlighted by a one-out double to left center by Martinez, but were unable to drive in a run, keeping the score the same after three. 

Taking over on the mound in the fourth, Geisler went to work, getting the first batter to line out before ending the top half of the frame with a 4-6-3 double play. The freshman continued his strong outing in the fifth, collecting a strikeout while not allowing a hit in the inning to send his team up to bat. Stepping to the plate with two outs, Strand knocked a double down the right field line, but Boston College was once again able to escape without any damage, keeping it a one-run game through five. 

In the sixth, the River Hawks began to hit their stride on offense, as senior Conor Kelly (Hopkinton, Mass.) led off with a single up the middle. On the next pitch, senior Jake Fitzgibbons (Franklin, Mass.) laid down a near-perfect bunt, moving Kelly to second, but the Eagles locked down, not allowing the runner to reach home, keeping UMass Lowell off the board. In the top of the seventh, the visitors added to their lead, using a pair of walks and a pair of singles to plate two runs and make it a three-run game. In the next inning, they added one more, making it 4-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth. 

In the final two innings, the hosts looked to respond but were only able to get one runner on base on a single by senior Brandon Fish (Londonderry, N.H.). Meanwhile, the Eagles added a fifth run in the top of the ninth, sealing the 5-0 decision. 

The River Hawks are back in action on Tuesday, May 11, at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, R.I. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Bill Beck Field.

Kai Trump, a promising high school golfer and prominent NIL earner, is making waves in the sports and social media world, with a net worth of $1.2 million. Having recently secured a lucrative sponsorship with WHOOP, she’s recognized as the top female high school athlete in the U.S. for NIL earnings. Kai’s profile is bolstered not only by her family connections—her grandfather is former President Donald Trump—but also by her golf talent and social media presence, with over 1.7 million followers on Instagram and 3 million on TikTok. Living in Florida, one of just 20 states allowing high school athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness, Kai is capitalizing on her opportunities.

By the Numbers

• Kai Trump has a net worth of $1.2 million, making her the highest-earning female high school athlete.
• Her latest sponsorship is with WHOOP, which offers fitness trackers priced up to $359.
• Only 20 states permit high school athletes to earn NIL income, with Florida being one of them.
• Top NIL earners: Jared Curtis ($2 million), Anna Frey ($681k), Aaliyah Chavez ($755k).

State of Play

• Kai recently announced her sponsorship deal on social media, highlighting her ambassador role for WHOOP.
• Her social media following continues to grow, with significant engagement from fans.
• Despite fewer opportunities for female athletes in high school sports, Kai’s rise suggests a shift in recognition and funding.

What’s Next

Looking ahead, Kai is set to begin her college golf career at the University of Miami in 2026, which could further enhance her visibility and earning potential. Her association with both WHOOP and high-profile figures like Tiger Woods could attract additional sponsorships. The trend of female athletes earning NIL deals may continue to gain momentum as more states adapt their regulations.

Bottom Line

Kai Trump’s journey highlights the evolving landscape for high school female athletes capitalizing on NIL opportunities. Her story serves as inspiration for other aspiring female athletes, indicating that significant financial success is attainable, particularly in states that embrace NIL earnings. Staying ahead in social media engagement and sponsorships will be crucial as the landscape continues to change.

WILKES-BARRE — Exactly 57 years ago yesterday — May 10, 1968 — my mom passed away.

There hasn’t been a day since that I have not thought about her or applied some of the endless lessons she taught me.

And as every Mother’s Day approaches and arrives, it still tears me apart.

Add to that my dad passing in November 1995, and I can honestly tell you that losing both parents and not having any siblings brings a cloud of loneliness over one’s self.

And it stays — forever.

But I can also say that my parents inspired me when I was young and since their passing, I have relied on them to keep me focused on my life, my family, my friends and my community.

My parents — Elizabeth Kraszewski O’Boyle and William O’Boyle, Sr. — taught me so much.

Mom and dad each had a disability, so I had a very early appreciation of the abilities of people with disabilities.

Dad worked all his life and, co-founded the Plymouth Little League and he was active in many organizations — veteran-related and community-related.

Mom was the same way. She did so much for others and had genuine compassion for people in need.

My Mom and Dad taught me:

• To appreciate people — all people — regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. They saw the good in people and always accented the positive. They taught me to help where you can — to strive to make a difference — even if it seems small to you, it’s much bigger to the people you are helping.

• To value family and friends — to treat others as you would want to be treated. See people for who they are and what they bring to the table. Never judge anyone on the color of their skin, their ethnicity or their social status. Listen and you will learn. When you hear what others are saying, you can help them.

• They taught me about love, compassion, community, family, friendship, acceptance, fairness, tolerance, patriotism and faith.

• They taught me the importance of being supportive and respectful. My parents were always there for me — in the stands at my baseball games, my basketball games and at all the practices. They watched, but they never complained. They never questioned any of my coaches. They always taught me to respect my teachers, coaches, teammates, opponents and, well, everybody.

• And I learned about love from my mom and dad. I knew they had a special relationship from the beginning — they each had a bad leg and neither were in any way hindered by their disability.

But it was when my mom became sick that I saw love up close. I saw the expressions on their faces, the holding of hands, the tears. I saw the devotion of nightly visits to the hospital and weekend trips to Philadelphia to be at Mom’s side. I listened when they talked.

I heard the conversations of two people in love.

Staying connected

I’ve never been blessed with the kind of hair you see on movie stars. It would take some time to get my hair to look acceptable, to say the least.

And when I couldn’t get it right — which was most days — my mom would use her brush. Now, she had a glorious head of hair. It shined from her brushing it over and over. Her magical brush was a pink sort of plastic brush that worked absolute wonders — even on my wiry hair.

Many years later, on one of those dark, dismal days following her death, as I was packing up her stuff, I came across my mom’s hair brush. I remember looking at it and staring at it and recalling all those precious times that she had used it to brush her hair and mine.

Even then at age 17, I recalled thinking just how very few those times were, and I remember trying to deal with the reality that those memories were all I had now, with no chance of new memories to be made.

I took the brush and put it in my room. It is the one personal possession that still connects me to my mom.

Sadly, the brush is not what it once was. The handle broke off years ago. Many of the plastic bristles are gone as well.

But this brush still has, in my mind, my mom’s DNA — and mine — all through it.

So for 57 years, instead of hugs and kisses from a living mother, I have had the loving caresses of that brush. When I use that brush, my mom is with me — and those memories come alive.

This was her brush. She used it every day and night. She held it. She ran it through her hair. She used it to get me ready for school each day.

My mom knew how to do it all, as most mothers do, without complaining. They cherish being a mom.

So cherish them back.

And I will remember my mom by running that tattered brush though my thinning hair and I will imagine her hugs, her smile and her soul.

Happy Mother’s Day.