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Matthew Gaudreau's former teammate reveals heartbreaking final conversation before his death
A former teammate revealed his final conversation with Matthew Gaudreau after the former NHL star's tragic death on Thursday night.
Matthew, along with brother Johnny, were struck by a vehicle during a cycling trip in New Jersey - killing the siblings on the eve of their sister Katie's wedding.
After a 160-game pro hockey career, Matthew became a high school and junior hockey coach. He recently accepted a position as a skills coach with a junior team in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
The new job would have allowed him more time with his wife Madeline and their first child, who is expected to be born on December 31. Former teammate, Frankie DiChiara, was also looking forward to being close to Gaudreau.
'Matty and I always stayed in touch. He was one of my best friends,' DiChiara shared. 'I was at his wedding and visited him on the Jersey Shore two summers ago.'
Matthew Gaudreau's former teammate revealed their heartbreaking final conversation
Frankie DiChiara shared hotel rooms with Gaudreau when they played together in the ECHL
The two shared hotel rooms on the road as members of the Worcester Railers and Reading Royals in ECHL, two tiers below the NHL.
DiChiara now coaches a Long Island-based PAL Islanders team which competes in the same league as the Wolves.
DiChiara also talked to his former teammate a week before his tragic passing to 'catch up and talk about hockey.
He noted how they were excited to reunite as coaches in the same league and raved about Gaudreau's growing family.
'He'd been on the road a lot coaching juniors the last few years, and he was excited that this position would have allowed him to be closer to his wife and baby on the way,' DiChiara said.
DiChiara remembered Gaudreau as a tough competitor and great teammate, claiming his best days of Hockey were still ahead of him despite not being on the ice.
Matthew and brother Johnny were struck by a vehicle while cycling in New Jersey
Matthew leaves behind his wife, Madeline, after his death on Thursday in New Jersey
A fundraiser dedicated to helping Madeline and the family financially has raised over $290k
A graphic displays the crash that killed Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau on Thursday night
'Matty was a hell of a hockey player, very similar to his brother on the ice; he was an excellent skater and could see the ice as well as anyone,' DiChiara said. 'He totaled over a point per game in the ECHL; he could have kept playing.'
'He had one of the highest hockey IQs I'd ever been around,' DiChiarra said. 'He was a great coach.'
Gaudreau served as the head coach of Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey and as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Rebels - a junior program developing NCAA and pro prospects in recent years.