Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matthew paid touching tribute at 2024 HHOF induction ceremony by Lanny McDonald

In a deeply moving moment at the 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF) induction ceremony on Monday, Lanny McDonald, the Hall’s chairman and a revered figure in hockey, paid a heartfelt tribute to Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew.

The Gaudreau brothers were killed near their childhood home in South Jersey on August 29 when a car rammed into them at full speed while they were cycling. The devastating incident sent shockwaves through the hockey community.

McDonald remembered the Gaudreau brothers' contributions to the game and spoke about the tragic loss that still resonates within the hockey world.

"The news on Sept. 1 devastated the hockey world and everyone who’d had the pleasure of meeting or knowing Johnny or Matthew," McDonald said.

Johnny Gaudreau, who played nine seasons with the Calgary Flames, made a lasting impact both on and off the ice. Lanny McDonald, who knew Johnny well during his time in Calgary, spoke candidly about the young star’s love for the game and his unique ability to rise to any occasion.

“I got to know Johnny and his family quite well during his eight seasons with the Flames and I can tell you that nobody loved the game or played over his weight class like Johnny Gaudreau did.”

“Anyone who knows the game knows Johnny would have been here someday. Tonight, he and Matthew are in our thoughts and prayers of everyone in the hockey community and at the Hall of Fame," McDonald said.

Jeremy Roenick, Krissy Wendell-Pohl, Pavel Datsyuk, Colin Campbell, Natalie Darwitz, Shea Weber and David Poile were the 2024 inductees to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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Judge extends time to indict driver accused of killing Johnny Gaudreau & brother Matthew

The driver accused of killing Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Sean M. Higgins, made a brief court appearance on Tuesday. The hearing was the first time, Sean M. Higgins, the 44-year-old defendant, met face-to-face with the Gaudreau family.

During this session, the judge granted prosecutors an additional 30 days to file formal charges related to the Gaudreau brothers' tragic deaths.

According to authorities, Higgins, a Woodstown resident in southwestern New Jersey, was allegedly impaired after consuming five or six beers before the incident and has a prior record of road rage and aggressive driving.