EA Sports, the Burnaby-based video game developer that has published the popular NHL series since 1991, has added a tribute to deceased brothers Johnny and Matty Gaudreau to the loading screen of NHL 24.

The Gaudreau brothers were struck and killed by a drunk driver while cycling on the side of a New Jersey freeway on Thursday evening, leading to a widespread outpouring of grief from the hockey world.

Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko, who played with both Gaudreau brothers at Boston College, called them “some of the sweetest people I’ve played with and gotten close with.”

The EA tribute, which first popped up on Friday and quickly circulated on social media, features photos of Johnny Gaudreau in his Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets, and USA Today jerseys, as well as a photo of both Gaudreau brothers celebrating their 2014 Beanpot championship with Boston College.

Both Gaudreau brothers were in New Jersey to participate as groomsmen at their sister’s wedding on Friday. A fundraiser benefiting Matty’s wife, Madeline, and her unborn child, Tripp, has collected more than $350,000 USD as of 12:00 p.m. PT on Saturday.

The Flames originally selected Johnny Gaudreau in the fourth round (No. 104 overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft. The 5’9″ left wing overcame his lack of size and draft pedigree to carve out a remarkable NHL career with the Flames and Blue Jackets, collecting 243 goals and 743 points in 763 games.

Johnny and Matty Gaudreau played together at Boston College in the 2013-14 season, with Matty ultimately turning pro in 2017 after spending three more years in school. He played the majority of his professional career with the ECHL’s Worcester Railers but appeared in four AHL games with the Stockton Heat, the Flames’ farm team, in the 2019-20 season.

The current iteration of EA’s NHL series, NHL 24, features Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar as its cover athlete. EA is scheduled to release NHL 25, with the Canucks’ Quinn Hughes alongside his brothers Jack and Luke on the cover, on October 4.