At mostly separate times, with their only coinciding season being 2013–14, brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau served as absolute adrenaline shots for the Boston College Eagles. “Johnny Hockey”, despite his small stature, appeared to be a prodigy that was destined for greatness after dominating both the high school circuit with Gloucester Catholic in his home region of southern New Jersey and the USHL with the Dubuque Fighting Saints (though despite his natural hockey IQ, a lot of his success was the result of his work ethic that stemmed from determination to prove doubters wrong) and made an impact from the jump as a freshman. Matthew had an arc that incrementally went upward and culminated in him being an essential player by his senior season. Let’s look at what both did in their impactful on-ice pursuits during their time at The Heights.

“Johnny Hockey” was measured at 5’6″, 137 pounds at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, wherein he was selected by the Calgary Flames in round four after his outstanding season with Dubuque. With a chip on his shoulder as a freshman in 2011–12, he had a PPG season with 44 points in 44 games and was MVP of both the Beanpot Tournament and Brian Flynn Trophy winner of the Hockey East Championship Tournament. However, the lasting memory of this season will always be his impact on the Eagles winning their fifth national title and their fourth in the 21st century. One may most fondly recall his unbelievable backhand goal to put BC up 3-1 against Ferris State in the big dance. It truly is one of the most enduring highlights in the history of any blue blood program. While this would be the only national championship the program won during his time there, “Johnny Hockey” was just getting started individually. He posted a 51 points in 35 games stat line (which included 14 multiple point games, including one six-point, one five-point, and one four-point showing) in 2012–13, helped BC to another Beanpot win, and was named Hockey East Player of the Year, a Hobey Baker finalist, and an AHCA First Team All-American. He would repeat all of these feats in his junior year, though this time, he’d be taking the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top player home, with 80 points in 40 games to his name while the Eagles took home the Hockey East regular season championship. Though he would forgo his final year of NCAA eligibility by joining up with Calgary before the season ended, Johnny nevertheless ranks 10th in career points in Boston College history. He will forever be remembered as one of the best players in program history alongside the likes of Brian Leetch, Brian Gionta, and Joe Mullen, amongst many other greats.

After two seasons with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, Matthew joined his elder brother at the same institution in 2013–14. He appeared in just nine games as a freshman, but scored a goal in his debut against West Point and appeared in all three national tournament games that BC played in. His role would increase over the ensuing seasons. As noted in his bio, he played in 32 games his sophomore season and registered six points, as well as his first career point streak. His junior year saw his first major productivity bump, at 21 points in 39 games. In his final season as a senior, he recorded career highs in goals (8), assists (27), points (35), and plus-minus (+11), leading the Eagles in the second category and being tied for best in the third. In addition to participating in the hardware won in his freshman campaign, he won an additional Beanpot trophy in 2016. While Matthew had an upward climb, he gradually became an essential part of the fabric of the Eagles, and earned himself an AHL contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

The Athletic’s Scott C. Wheeler spoke to longtime BC coach Jerry York in light of this morning’s devastating headline. He recalled that these two “lifted practices with their excitement to get on the ice” and described their humility and kindness via their “[keeping] in touch with everyone.” It is clear that, beyond their exceptional talent, these two young men possessed extraordinary character and dedication, as well. Their marks on the hockey community, particularly its subsections in their native Greater Philadelphia region and home state of New Jersey (which they impacted on a grassroots level in more ways that can be described), the Boston metropolitan area, and the professional markets that they played in, will endure for multiple lifetimes. Remember them fondly and hold your loved ones close.

This is just one more reminder to donate to the Gaudreau family memorial fund, if you are able to, and to share it for additional exposure. This community has done outstanding work in coming together in the wake of tragedy. We would do anything to change what happened, but what a great reminder of what it is capable of.