Guy Gaudreau finding peace despite 'hollow feelings' that linger

Q: What happened to Guy Gaudreau's sons?

Guy Gaudreau's sons, John and Matthew, were killed in a biking accident in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.

Q: How long has it been since the tragedy involving Guy Gaudreau's family?

It has been a year and eight months since the tragic loss of his sons.

Q: Where does Guy Gaudreau find peace amidst his grief?

Guy Gaudreau finds peace while strolling among the maple trees on the acreage he purchased in northern Vermont.

Q: What emotions does Guy Gaudreau express about his current state?

Guy Gaudreau expresses feelings of hollowness and difficulty coping with his grief during idle moments.

Unless he’s up in the woods, strolling among maple trees that give cover to the acreage he purchased from his father in northern Vermont, life's quiet moments aren’t good for Guy Gaudreau.

More: Ahead of Columbus Blue Jackets' home opener, Johnny Gaudreau's dad joins team at practice

It’s been a year and eight months since Gaudreau, his wife Jane, and their family were devastated by the type of tragedy that keeps parents awake at night. Their sons, hockey standouts John (often called Johnny) and Matthew, were killed while biking together in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, not far from their parents’ home on the eve of their youngest sister’s wedding.

It's a heartbreaking story with layers of grief. So, how is Guy Gaudreau doing?

“Well, I don’t know how I’m supposed to be doing,” he said. “I know how I feel. You know, I know each day, every second that I’m not … every second that I’m idle, is not good. So, I have a lot of hollow feelings, and you know, it’s difficult.”

Each brother played at Boston College and eventually in the pro ranks. The eldest, John, rose to NHL stardom with the Calgary Flames and Blue Jackets. Matthew was embarking on a coaching path.

Guy Gaudreau walks in the stands after the United States beat Canada in the men's gold medal hockey game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

They were killed when an SUV driven by Sean Higgins struck them while attempting to pass a slower vehicle on the right shoulder of a narrow two-lane road. Higgins remains jailed and faces multiple charges, while the Gaudreau family pays close attention to his case.

That's a big reason that stress and grief continue to feel so fresh, but there are other reminders, too.

The family of the late John Gaudreau celebrate after the United States gold medal victory on Feb. 22 at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games.

In addition to the pending trial keeping the tragedy fresh, Gaudreau has also felt emptiness in moments that he and his family otherwise cherish, including the U.S. men’s hockey team defeating Canada back in February to win an Olympic gold medal in Milan, Italy.

Guy and Jane were there, courtesy of USA Hockey, along with John Gaudreau's wife, Meredith and their grandkids. John's No. 13 jersey for Team USA, which hung in the U.S. locker room for the tournament, was proudly displayed by U.S. players, including Zach Werenski, his former Blue Jackets teammate.

The two oldest of John's children – daughter Noa and son Johnny – were fetched from the stands by Werenski and Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, then carried onto the ice for the team photo. For Guy Gaudreau, it was both a beautiful tribute to his son and a painful reminder of what his family lost.

“I mean, it was nice what they did for John and his jersey and all that, but, like, John would’ve been on that team, you know?” Gaudreau said. “So, it’s hard, and a lot of things have been taken away from us. In one second, they’re here, and in one second, they’re both gone, right? And we may never see them again. So, it’s difficult.”

Staying busy is good for Guy.

Jane Gaudreau (left center) and Guy Gaudreau (right center) shown with friends who helped them start the Gaudreau Family Foundation, which exists to honor the memories of John and Matthew Gaudreau through charitable efforts.

Gaudreau Family Foundation 5K gets a familiar sponsor

After the tragedy, the Gaudreau family joined with a small group of friends to form the Gaudreau Family Foundation, which was created to help honor John and Matthew's memories.

A year ago, they hosted the inaugural Gaudreau Family Foundation 5K Run/Walk and Family Fun Day at Washington Lake Park in Sewell, New Jersey, which raised more than $500,000 to help construct an accessible playground at a special needs school where Jane Gaudreau works. They drew more than 2,100 registrants, including more than 1,100 who ran/walked virtually from around the globe.

It was a great success, and this year’s event is almost here. The second annual Gaudreau Family Foundation 5K will be held May 16, again at Washington Lake Park, and the main sponsor this time is Hollydell Ice Arena, where Guy Gaudreau once worked as director of hockey operations.

Hollydell is also where he taught both of his sons to skate and play hockey, right around the corner from the park.

Guy Gaudreau, center, shown with sons Matthew and John, during Guy's days as director of hockey operations for Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, New Jersey. The arena is sponsoring the second annual Gaudreau Family Foundation's 5K Run/Walk.

“I raised four children working there, and that was kind of like a home for all of them,” Gaudreau said. “My two daughters didn’t really enjoy skating or playing, so they were more into dance, cheerleading and soccer. They didn't like smelly equipment, but they did come to the rink a lot. They did help me.”

Hollydell’s returning the favor now.

Gaudreau's replacement as the rink's hockey director, Tom Bunting, encouraged local teams and players to raise funds to sponsor this year’s 5K, which will boost funding toward special needs hockey initiatives and a learn-to-skate program next winter.

Gaudreau loves being on skates, and he stayed busy this past season by running weekly clinics for a local AAA team at a different rink. He’s also overseeing a parent-taught class for beginners set to begin May 21 at Hollydell Ice Arena, and that's sure to prompt some trips down Memory Lane.

“I was on the ice there a lot, and not just with John and Matt,” Gaudreau said. “I worked with a lot of kids, and I suppose I’ve made a pretty big impact on a lot of their lives. There’s quite a few kids I coached who ended up playing [NCAA] Division I or Division III [hockey], or it just impacted their lives or the way they look at life, I guess. ... Hopefully I helped more than I hurt.”

Blue Jackets left wing Johnny Gaudreau smiles at his daughter, Noa, before a 2023 game against the Seattle Kraken at Nationwide Arena.

New wave of Gaudreaus headed for hockey?

Prior to the tragedy, Matthew Gaudreau and his wife, Madeline, learned they were expecting their first child, a son. His dad helped name him Tripp.

John Gaudreau, meanwhile, had two young kids of his own plus, as John knew, another on the way. Meredith shared the news that she was pregnant with Carter at her late husband's funeral.

“I made a promise to the boys before anything happened,” Guy Gaudreau said. “When they found out Matthew was having a boy, they took me to a corner that summer and said, ‘You’ve got to come out of retirement, Dad, and teach them.’”

That process has nearly begun.

Noa's the oldest, so she's the closest to the ice. She also enjoys dance and playing soccer, and her paternal grandfather has already taken notice of her speed, which he’s seen before.

“She’s a lot like her dad,” Guy Gaudreau said. “She’s really quick. Like, I’ll play with her and chase her, and she’s got that really quick acceleration. Within seconds, she’s going full speed. So, I’m hoping when they come back [from Columbus], we can get her skating. I talked to her, and she’s all excited. She seems to be excited to do it.”

Guy Gaudreau [center] with his sons, Matthew [left] and Johnny [right] when Guy was director of hockey operations for Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, New Jersey. Each brother excelled in hockey, including Johnny playing for the Calgary Flames and Blue Jackets.

It’s something that Gaudreau envisioned for his granddaughter in October 2023, right after her birth.

Speaking with The Dispatch a few days after cutting her umbilical cord, John Gaudreau smiled while remembering something his dad said.

“We didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl, and right when I told my dad it was a girl, he was like, ‘Girls play hockey too!’” John Gaudreau said. “He was excited. He said, ‘We can put a hockey stick in her hand too.’”

If so, Noa will be the first to lace up skates in a new Gaudreau youth movement, followed by Johnny, Carter and her cousin, Tripp. That ought to keep Guy Gaudreau busy.

“I’d like to get them to the rink, on a chair, and just push them around on the chair so they get acquainted with the ice,” he said. “Tripp and Carter are still about a year away before they really can get on the ice. I usually change [to skates] when they can go up the stairs on their own, when their balance is good enough.”

Guy Gaudreau, family take solace in 'sugaring'

Gaudreau’s unincorporated hometown of Beebe Plains, Vermont, is split between the U.S. and Canadian borders along the province of Quebec and northern Vermont. It’s incredibly small, located about 20 minutes South of Sherbrooke, Quebec, and there’s a main road that runs East-West along the border.

That’s how Canusa Street got its name. The 'C-a-n' stands for Canada and the 'u-s-a' for the U.S. The vast majority of residents are Canadians who live on the North side of Canusa, while Americans, including the Gaudreaus, live to the South. The yellow lines dividing the road also divide nations for about half a mile.

Recent tensions between the nations ratcheted up the intensity of border patrols on both sides, which typically affects Gaudreau once a year.

The land he owns there is filled with maple trees. So, whenever late February rolls around and those trees start “running,” with sap, that's where you’ll find Guy Gaudreau, up in Beebe, Vermont, checking his tree spouts.

It’s called “sugaring,” which John Gaudreau shared with a couple of reporters on Feb. 28, 2024, at Madison Square Garden.

“My dad's up in Vermont right now sugaring, doing maple syrup and stuff, so he won’t be able to come [to the game], but he’d normally be here for sure,” Gaudreau said. “It’s like a certain time in the sugaring season. The sap runs in the trees, so he needs to be up there right now … so, he’s loving doing that up there.”

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau celebrate after the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

US team members stand with the jersey number 13 of late US ice hockey player Johnny Gaudreau the medal ceremony after winning the men's gold medal ice hockey match between Canada and USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on February 22, 2026. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew died in August 2024 after they were struck by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey. (Photo by Antonin THUILLIER / AFP via Getty Images)

Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; United States players celebrate with a team photo while holding the jersey of Johnny Gaudreau after defeating Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Meredith Gaudreau walks in the stands after the United States won the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: (L-R) Jeremy Swayman #1, Jackson LaCombe #2, Brady Tkachuk #7 and Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States hold the shirt of late Johnny Gaudreau while participating in the national anthem during the medal ceremony following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Zach Werenski (left) and Jack Hughes of the United States celebrate after winning the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; The United States celebrates after winning the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win

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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win

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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win

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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win

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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win

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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win

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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win

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Johnny Gaudreau's family on hand for Team USA Olympic win

It’s a subject that all of Guy Gaudreau's children and Jane Gaudreau know well. That’s how many of their spring breaks were spent. John and Matt loved tapping trees and sugaring with their dad and grandfather, ripping around on four-wheelers.

Bottles of maple syrup made by Guy Gaudreau and Jane Gaudreau on their property in Beebe Plains, Vermont. The syrup will be sold at the second annual Gaudreau Family Foundation 5K Run/Walk to raise funds for charity May 16, 2026 in Sewell, New Jersey.

Perhaps those memories crossed John Gaudreau’s mind that day in New York, when a reporter jokingly asked if the trees were calling his dad. He smiled from ear to ear.

“Yeah, the sap’s running,” Gaudreau said. “The trees are running, and it’s like two weeks at the end of February into early March that it’s a good time to sugar, and he’s up there doing that now.”

Guy and his family still enjoy sugaring. They still do it together, as a tradition, each season. Some of this year's batch will even be sold at the 5K to raise additional foundation funds.

Is it cathartic?

“Well, what for me is enjoyable is the fact that I own property that my grandfather owned, and my dad owned, and they sugared that area,” Gaudreau said. “Both of them did it there. Not just that part of the property, but the majority of the property. So, it kind of gives me a good feeling that I’m on the property that a family has owned for years, and I’m out there. So, it’s nice.”

It’s the one moment of solitude that still brings joy.

“I love being in the woods,” he said. “I love looking at trees and the growth and working with wood and stuff like that. You have a small window of opportunity for syrup. When the trees start running, when they start thawing out from the winter, from the cold winter, it picks up water from the ground, draws up the tree, and we tap those trees with little spouts that go in it.”

You get the distinct feeling he could talk about the process for days.

How sugary water drips into each bucket from those spouts. How the buckets are collected when they fill up. How they're taken to the sugar house, where the water inside each one is dumped into big metal pans and boiled until it reduces into syrup. How it takes 60 to 80 gallons of sugared water to make one gallon of syrup.

“And it’s all organic,” Gaudreau said, excitedly. “There’s no additives. There's nothing added. It’s just all organic, right from the tree, so it’s really good for you.”

For the soul, too.

Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Guy Gaudreau finding solace after Johnny's, Matthew's tragic deaths