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NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau and His Brother Killed successful New Jersey Bike Accident
The Columbus Blue Jackets are mourning the nonaccomplishment of an all-star player.
Johnny Gaudreau, a guardant for the Ohio-based hockey squad has died, on with his member Matthew Gaudreau, his squad confirmed. Johnny was 31, portion Matthew was 29.
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy,” Johnny’s squad wrote successful an Aug. 30 statement. “Johnny was not lone a large hockey player, but much importantly a loving husband, father, son, member and friend.”
The Gaudreau brothers were biking connected a agrarian New Jersey roadworthy astatine astir 8 p.m. connected the evening of Aug. 29 erstwhile Sean M. Higgins, 43, collided with them from the rear portion attempting to walk different SUV traveling northbound, New Jersey sargeant Jeffrey Lebron told E! News successful a statement.
Lebron added that "Higgins was suspected of being nether the power of alcohol," and has been charged with "two counts of decease by auto." He is presently being held astatine Salem County Correctional Facility and the clang continues to beryllium investigated.
E! News has reached retired to attorneys for Higgins but has not yet heard back.
Johnny—who had played 11 seasons successful the NHL connected the Blue Jackets arsenic good arsenic the Calgary Flames—had welcomed his son, Johnny Edward Gaudreau with woman Meredith Gaudreau successful February, and was besides dad to 23-month-old daughter, Noa.
Matthew, meanwhile, is survived by his woman of 2 years, Madeline Gaudreau.
“We widen our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their household and friends connected the abrupt nonaccomplishment of Johnny and Matt,” the Blue Jackets’ connection continued. “Johnny played the crippled with large joyousness which was felt by everyone that saw him connected the ice.”
The Gaudreau brothers, who were natives of New Jersey, some played connected hockey teams passim their life, and were teammates astatine Boston College.
As Matthew wrote successful a Nov. 2013 Instagram station of the pair, “First NCAA assemblage crippled together.”
Matthew Gaudreau/Instagram
And portion Matthew played for the Worcester Railers—a New York Islanders ECHL affiliate—in 2022, Johnny had continued to play up until his death, with his woman celebrating the extremity of the erstwhile NHL play successful an April Instagram post, noting, “Love our feline truthful much!”
Ben Jackson/NHLI via Getty Images
Indeed, the bequest Johnny—who was affectionately nicknamed “Johnny Hockey”—leaves down successful his athletics is immense.
“The interaction helium had connected our enactment and our athletics was profound, but pales successful examination to the indelible content helium made connected everyone who knew him,” the Blue Jackets connection concluded. "Johnny embraced our assemblage erstwhile helium arrived 2 years ago, and Columbus welcomed him with unfastened arms. We volition miss him terribly and bash everything that we tin to enactment his household and each different done this tragedy.”
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