Hockey Community Rallies Behind Gaudreau Family; Forwards Jack Eichel, Tanner Pearson Lead Support From Golden Knights

The hockey world was rocked to its core on Friday morning when the NHL and the Columbus Blue Jackets announced the devastating news that star forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed Thursday night when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver as they were riding their bikes home from their sister's rehearsal dinner.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, were back in their hometown of Salem, NJ to be groomsmen in their sister Katie's wedding that was set to take place the next day on Friday.

Since the news of their tragic deaths NHL fans and players alike have been sending their prayers and support to the Gaudreau family. Of the many current NHL players to show their support are Golden Knights' forwards Jack Eichel and Tanner Pearson, who have contributed to the GoFundMe to support Matthews' wife Meredith and their unborn son, Tripp. The GoFundMe which originally had a goal of $30,000, has since raised an incredible $372,000.

While Jack Eichel and Johnny Gaudreau were never teammates in the NHL, the two American born forwards played together for team North America, which consisted of NHL players who were 23 and younger during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The pair also played for prominent NCAA schools in Boston University(Eichel) and Boston College(Gaudreau) although they never played for their respective alma maters during the same time. Gaudreau and Eichel also both won the Hobey Baker award for the top NCAA hockey player with Gaudreau winning the trophy in 2014 and Eichel in 2015.

Also chipping in was Tanner Pearson, who the Knights signed to a PTO earlier this month. Pearson doesn't have any known connections to the Gaudreau family, just going to show how tight knit of a community the hockey world is.

Since news of their tragic deaths, fans in Columbus and Calgary have been showing an outpouring of love and support for the Gaudreau's, leaving flowers, jerseys, sticks, photos and more to commemorate their lives.

Two sons, fathers and brothers were ripped away from their families and the hockey world. Johnny's wife Meredith no longer has her husband, his young kids Noa and Johnny will grow up without their father. Brother Matthew will never get to meet his son Tripp. The loss is immeasurable; however, the lasting contributions Johnny and Matthew brought to the game of hockey and more importantly their families and friends will last a lifetime.