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Hockey fans are mourning the loss of NHL stars Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, who died in a bicycling accident on Thursday, in Salem County's Oldmans Township, New Jersey. They were in their hometown for their sister Katie's wedding.
To honor their memory, EA Sports NHL 24 has included a touching tribute. When players start the game, they see a message that reads:
"IN LOVING MEMORY: MATTHEW GAUDREAU (1994-2024), JOHNNY GAUDREAU (1993-2024)."
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Johnny Gaudreau was a well-known player who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets and formerly for the Calgary Flames. Matthew Gaudreau also played professional hockey in various leagues. Both were loved by fans and teammates.
As the news spread, fans reacted to NHL 24's tribute:
"Should be the cover of 25," one fan suggested.
NHL 24 features Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar on the cover, and the next edition is set to feature the "Hughes brothers" (Quinn, Jack and Luke Hughes).
"Extremely rare EA W," another fan wrote.
"I could be wrong about this but after Kivlenieks' death, there was a pop up when you logged into the game... but I'm glad that EA was nice enough to give Johnny a graphic 🙏🏿," one fan wrote.
The game's tribute is a simple but powerful way to remember Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. Here are some more reactions:
"They also removed his items in game too, I’m rocking the CBJ Alt sweater tho," a fan shared.
"The NHL is the most endearing brotherhood. They are closest to a literal brotherhood. You fight and get sent to your room, but you respect the hell out of the other guy." One fan profoundly said.
"I’m a devils fan and I think it would be great if they replaced the Hughes cover with this on NHL 25❤️," another fan suggested.
Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matthew's accident
Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew died in a bicycling accident on Aug. 29. The incident took place around 8:19 p.m. on a rural road when they were struck by a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Sean M. Higgins, 43, who is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. Higgins was arrested and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide.
Their uncle, Jim Gaudreau, released a statement describing them as “two amazing humans” and asked for privacy for the family during this difficult time. The Columbus Blue Jackets, Johnny’s team, also released a statement mourning their loss.
