Nearly two years after Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were killed while riding bicycles in New Jersey, their father says forgiveness remains beyond his reach.
Guy Gaudreau told TMZ that he has not forgiven Sean Higgins, the driver charged in connection with his sons’ deaths.
He also spoke candidly about how the loss has affected his faith and left him feeling as though the rest of the world has continued moving while his own life remains defined by what happened.
“Everyone’s life goes on but mine,” Guy said. “I will never get my sons back.”
Guy Gaudreau Described Grief That Has Not Eased
He told the outlet that he did not know how he could ever forgive Higgins. Guy also said he had struggled to forgive God for taking both of his sons.
Johnny and Matthew died on August 29, 2024, near their hometown in southern New Jersey. The brothers were cycling on the evening before they were scheduled to serve as groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding.
Johnny was 31, and Matthew was 29. Guy said the family had not finalized its plans for the second anniversary of their deaths. He and his wife, Jane, have continued honoring their sons through projects connected to hockey, children with disabilities and their New Jersey community.
The Criminal Case Has Not Been Resolved
Higgins has pleaded not guilty to two counts each of aggravated manslaughter and reckless vehicular homicide, along with charges of evidence tampering and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He has not been convicted.
Prosecutors allege that Higgins had consumed alcohol, was driving aggressively and attempted to pass another vehicle on the right when his Jeep struck the brothers from behind. Witnesses told investigators that Johnny and Matthew had been riding single file near the edge of the road before the collision.
Authorities recorded Higgins’ blood-alcohol concentration as 0.087%, slightly above New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08%. His attorneys have challenged the testing and argued that the method used may have overstated the result.
A judge has rejected multiple defense attempts to dismiss or reduce the charges. In May, the court declined another request to throw out portions of the indictment over the handling and presentation of the blood-alcohol evidence. According to The Associated Press, Higgins could face as many as 70 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
His attorneys previously rejected a plea offer that would have called for a 35-year prison sentence. Higgins remains jailed while awaiting trial, and no trial date had been announced when Guy spoke publicly.
The Family Turned Part of Its Grief Into Community Work
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Guy and Jane have remained involved in programs reflecting their sons’ connections to hockey and children with disabilities. The family helped raise more than $500,000 for an adaptive playground at Archbishop Damiano School in Westville, New Jersey.
The Gaudreau Brothers’ Wings of Hope and Chrysalis Corner Adaptive Playground opened in June following a community construction effort supported by hockey teams, players, donors and volunteers. The school has longstanding ties to the Gaudreau family.
Johnny and Matthew volunteered there, their sister Kristen teaches there and Jane worked at the school for most of her adult life. NHL.com reported that the playground includes accessible swings, slides and other equipment designed so children with disabilities can play more independently.
The inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K supplied approximately 98% of the funding needed for the project, according to Jane. “When the sign was unveiled all I kept thinking about was the boys, how they would be so excited to see this,” she said. “This school has been part of our family for so long.”
The Brothers’ Hockey Legacy Remains Closely Tied to Their Family
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Johnny played 11 NHL seasons with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets. Known throughout the sport as “Johnny Hockey,” he became a seven-time NHL All-Star and recorded 743 points across 763 regular-season games.
Matthew played alongside his brother at Boston College before competing professionally in the American Hockey League and ECHL. He later worked as a high school hockey coach.
The brothers’ families have continued growing since their deaths. Johnny’s widow, Meredith, gave birth to their third child, Carter, in April 2025, while Matthew’s widow, Madeline, welcomed their son, Tripp, in December 2024.