NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother were killed in a crash in New Jersey
NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother were fatally struck by an SUV while riding bikes on a New Jersey roadway, officials said. The tragedy came on the eve of their sister’s wedding.
Johnny Gaudreau was 31; Matthew was 29.
"The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy," the NHL team said in a statement. "Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend."
The Gaudreau brothers' deaths came the night before their sister, Katie, was set to get married, according to their former coaches.
According to police, a driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee hit two "pedalcyclists," identified as the Gaudreaus, from behind while trying to pass an SUV on the right that had moved over to make way for the two cyclists. Police, who responded to the scene in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, at 8:19 p.m., said both Gaudreaus suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene some 35 miles south of Philadelphia.
The Jeep driver, who police identified as 43-year-old Sean Higgins, is charged with two counts of death by auto. “Through further investigation, Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol,” State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron said in a news release.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Higgins told police that he had five or six beers before the crash and had tried to go around the SUV on the right side after thinking the other vehicle was trying to block him from passing. He told police his drinking contributed to "his impatience and reckless driving." Higgins failed a field sobriety test, according to the affidavit.
Higgins was jailed at a Salem County facility and will remain there until his pretrial detention hearing, which is scheduled for Sept. 5.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
Johnny Gaudreau played in 11 NHL seasons for the Flames and Blue Jackets. He joined Columbus on a seven-year contract starting with the 2022-23 season. He was an All-Star in 2023 and posted 12 goals and 48 assists in 81 games last season.
Matthew Gaudreau also played hockey at Boston College and for various teams in the minor leagues.
Drafted by the Flames in the fourth round in 2011, Johnny Gaudreau attended Boston College, where he earned his "Johnny Hockey" nickname as he helped the Eagles win a national title in 2012. He won two straight Hockey East Player of the Year awards and was the 2014 winner of the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the top men's college player in the nation.
Johnny Gaudreau signed with the Flames and scored a goal in his first and only game of the 2013-14 season. A year later, Gaudreau became one of the league's brightest rookies as he scored 24 goals and 64 points to help the Flames reach the playoffs. He went on to be a six-time All-Star with the Flames and scored a career-high 40 goals and 115 points in 2021-22.
Gaudreau emerged as an NHL prospect during his lone season with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2010-11. Led by future Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, the Fighting Saints won the USHL title, the Clark Cup, as the undersized but deftly skilled Gaudreau scored 36 goals and 72 points in 60 games before scoring five goals and 11 points in 11 playoff games.
He represented the U.S. at the 2013 under-20 world junior championships, where he helped the nation win gold, scoring seven goals and nine points in seven games. He would go on to play for Team USA at five world championships and holds the men's world championship records by a U.S. player with 30 assists and 43 points, earlier this year breaking marks previously held by Patrick Kane.
Johnny Gaudreau leaves behind his wife and two children, while Matthew Gaudreau is survived by his wife. The brothers also leave behind their parents and two sisters.
