Hockey community, family and friends mourn brothers John and Matthew Gaudreau at their funeral

John and Matthew Gaudreau are being mourned by family, friends and countless members of the hockey community at the funeral Monday in a Philadelphia suburb for the brothers who died when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey.

Buses brought players and others to St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania, and a crowd of hundreds walked in for the service, including several children wearing Gaudreau No. 13 jerseys worn by the player known to fans as “Johnny Hockey.” Columbus Blue Jackets teammate Patrik Laine, Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and longtime executive Brian Burke were among those in attendance.

“It just shows the true honor and respect that everybody gave them. Just can’t imagine what they’re going through,” said Caufield, who will wear No. 13 in honor of John Gaudreau. “Just the amount of people that are here today and yesterday, just anything we can do to help.”

John, an All-Star for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, and Matthew, who played collegiate hockey alongside his brother at Boston College, died on the eve of their sister’s wedding.

The Rev. Tony Penna, the director of campus ministry at Boston College, where the brothers played hockey together a decade ago, asked those inside the church to look around at how many people made the trip to pay their respects, calling it a source of comfort for parents Guy and Jane.

“By the overwhelming presence and overwhelming number of people here today, they’re sending a message to you loud and clear that John and Matthew’s lives mattered, that they were noticed on this earth, they were loved on this earth and they were valued on this earth,” Penna said. “This robust crowd wants you to know that they’re here to tell you, all of you, that they love you, too, and they have your back and they’re here to support you in our loss.”