Photo: Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images
Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder took a moment to honor late hockey players Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau during Saturday's show at the Wells Fargo Center here in Philly. Vedder held up Johnny's Gloucester Catholic high school jersey and Matthew's Reading Royals jersey as the band launched into "Given To Fly", declaring "This one's for Johnny and Matt."
The brothers were riding bicycles in their native New Jersey when they were struck and killed by a drunk driver last week.
Vedder mentioned that hockey legend Chris Chelios, a close friend, told him the Gaudreaus were "such good men".
Pearl Jam will finish up their 2nd show in Philly later tonight at The Wells Fargo Center
Johnny, a player for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Matthew Gaudreau were killed last week by an alleged drunken driver in Salem County, New Jersey.
The driver, 43-year-old Sean Higgins of Woodstown, New Jersey, attempted to pass a slower vehicle when he fatally struck the Gaudreau brothers, who were riding along the right side of the road, according to police. Higgins was charged with two counts of death by auto in connection with the crash. He also admitted to officers that he had five to six beers before the accident, police said.
Since the crash, tributes have poured in from family members, loved ones and sports teams across the country.