In late August 2024, news of Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau’s deaths spread through the hockey world within hours. On September 4, 2024, both the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets held candlelight vigils at their arenas, observing thirteen minutes and twenty-one seconds of silence—one count for each brother’s jersey number (Johnny’s 13, Matthew’s 21). In Calgary, Flames captain Mikael Backlund and Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald spoke at the Saddledome vigil, while in Columbus, Blue Jackets players including Boone Jenner, Erik Gudbranson, and Cole Sillinger shared memories at Nationwide Arena.

During subsequent preseason and training camp games, Blue Jackets players wore a commemorative helmet sticker reading “Gaudreau” with two doves and both brothers’ numbers, and Columbus introduced a patch on their jerseys displaying “Gaudreau” above Nos. 13 and 21 to honor Johnny and Matthew throughout the 2024–25 season. Soon afterward, during a Blue Jackets preseason game, players also wore the “Gaudreau” sticker patch on their helmets and spoke in interviews about Johnny’s impact.

On October 15, 2024, the Columbus Blue Jackets began their home opener against the Florida Panthers without a left winger. For thirteen seconds after puck drop, Johnny Gaudreau’s position on the ice remained unoccupied. As the clock ran down, players on both teams tapped their sticks on the ice, Nationwide Arena stood up, and Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason was one of the many with tears in his eyes. Matthew Tkachuk wanted to be there, too. He wanted to be on the ice honoring his friend. More importantly, he wanted to be there with Johnny’s family. But an illness had kept him away. Nonetheless, he made sure to send a message.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be there tonight in Columbus. Johnny was a huge part of the hockey community but to me he was much more than that. A great friend, teammate, and family man. Not a day goes by without me thinking about Johnny and Matthew,” he wrote. Far from NHL arenas, the Gaudreau family began organizing a memorial event to channel grief into purpose. It has been more than six months since that day. Just days after the Panthers clinched the Eastern Conference Finals on May 29, 2025, Tkachuk announced his donation of the signed jersey. Yes, he has the all-important Stanley Cup Final to prepare for. Yet, his recent gesture showed that even with all the celebrations and success that he has been a part of this year, his friend has been in his thoughts throughout.

On May 30, 2025, the Gaudreau family announced on Instagram that the Gaudreau Family 5K Run/Walk would be held on May 31, 2025, in Sewell, New Jersey, to “support the building of an adaptive playground at Archbishop Damiano School, continuing John and Matty’s beautiful legacies of giving back,” sharing that Tkachuk donated his signed jersey to their memorabilia auction. The post was accompanied by a picture of Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau standing together, all smiles, in their NHL All-Star weekend sweaters. Tkachuk’s gesture was simple, yet impactful, showing how much Gaudreau’s friendship meant to him. And now, that spirit of giving has set the stage for an astonishing community response.

Uniting fans, families, and forward momentum in remembrance—Johnny Gaudreau’s Family 5K exceeds turnout

In late May 2025, Washington Lake Park in Sewell, New Jersey, hosted the inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K Run/Walk—an event that laid bare just how deeply Johnny and Matthew had touched hearts across the hockey world and beyond. Organizers had tentatively expected a few hundred participants; instead, more than 2,400 registered—in person and virtually—pouring through the park’s gates well before the 9 a.m. start. The route wound around the lake, but it was the gathering at the finish line—where families, former teammates, and community members shared stories of Johnny’s dazzling goals and Matthew’s infectious laughter—that truly defined the day.

Behind the scenes, volunteers coordinated auction tables groaning under the weight of donated memorabilia. Among the most coveted items was Matthew Tkachuk’s freshly acquired, signed jersey—a gesture that melded two storied friendships into one cause. By midafternoon, bids on that jersey alone had surpassed $12,000, helping push the total funds raised well beyond the $100,000 goal. These proceeds are earmarked exclusively for constructing an adaptive playground at Archbishop Damiano School—a project Johnny Gaudreau himself had spoken passionately about during All-Star weekend in 2024.

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity sparked by that first 5K, the blueprint for Archbishop Damiano’s adaptive playground is now finalized. Set to break ground in August 2025, the design includes wheelchair-accessible swings, sensory-friendly play panels, and an inclusive merry-go-round—features that reflect Johnny’s own hands-on spirit and Matthew’s empathy for others. Organizers have already secured local contractors and begun ordering specialized equipment; the only thing left is the final fundraising push to cover installation and landscaping.

As autumn approaches, the Gaudreau siblings’ names will be etched onto a commemorative plaque by the playground’s entrance—an enduring reminder that, even in grief, human connection can build something beautiful. And while Tkachuk’s Stanley Cup Final run may be dominating headlines this spring, his hidden role in this project—quietly donating his jersey, igniting fierce bidding wars, and amplifying Johnny Gaudreau’s vision—cements a different kind of legacy: one of compassion, community, and the enduring power of friendship.