John Tavares breaks his silence on the passing of Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau

On Thursday evening, less than one week ago, drunk driver Sean Higgins struck and killed the Gaudreau brothers, who were cycling home from their sister Katie's wedding rehearsal in a rural New Jersey township.

Since that time, there has been an outpouring of love and support for the Gaudreau family as the hockey world continues to mourn the loss of one of two of their own. The hockey community has come together to provide Matthew Gaudreau's widow, Madeline Gaudreau, with some financial support to the tune of over $536,000 to help piece her life together after her husband's unfortunate, senseless and preventable death.

It has been nearly a week since that horrible night, and now John Tavares has since joined the likes of Max Domi, Auston Matthews and Leafs GM Brad Treliving as members of the Leafs organization who have publicly expressed their sympathies to the Gaudreau family for their heartbreaking losses.

The hockey community is a very tight-knit group and a lot of these players become close over their lengthy careers, even if they never get a chance to be teammates. Players have a lot of respect and adoration for each other throughout their careers, and the messages of love and support for Johnny, Matthew and their families throughout this unspeakable tragedy is evidence of that.

Gone, but never forgotten. Rest in peace, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.