Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed in a traffic crash Thursday in Oldmans Township, N.J., outside Philadelphia, according to multiple reports.
The Blue Jackets and the NHL confirmed their deaths but did not provide further details.
According to multiple reports, New Jersey State Police said the Gaudreau brothers were riding bicycles on County Route 551 when they were hit by a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was trying to pass an SUV on the road. The crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. ET, about an hour after sunset.
According to WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, the driver of the Jeep, Sean M. Higgins, was being investigated for driving under the influence. Online inmate records showed Higgins, 43, was being held on suspicion of vehicular homicide.
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, had an 11-year NHL career, spending the first nine seasons with the Calgary Flames before signing a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2022. He had plenty of fans, earning the nickname “Johnny Hockey” for his dazzling quickness and skill.
Johnny Gaudreau
Aug. 13, 1993 – Aug. 29, 2024 pic.twitter.com/QGPsV4v7mv— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 30, 2024
Matthew Gaudreau, 29, also played pro hockey, most recently with the ECHL’s Worcester Railers in 2021-22.
“The National Hockey League family is shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his bother Matthew,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “While Johnny’s infectious spirit for the game and show-stopping skills on the ice earned him the nickname ‘Johnny Hockey,’ he was more than just a dazzling hockey player.
“He was a doting father and beloved husband, son, brother and teammate who endeared himself to every person fortunate enough to have cross his path.”
Gaudreau is survived by his wife, Meredith, and two children under the age of 2: a daughter, Noa, and a son, Johnny. He’s also survived by his parents, Guy and Jane, and two sisters, Katie and Kristen Gaudreau.
According to social media posts, Katie Gaudreau’s wedding was scheduled for Friday.
“The Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy,” the team said in a statement. “Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friends. … Johnny played the game with great joy, which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played … The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him.”
This marks the second time in three years that an unexpected death has struck the Blue Jackets franchise. On July 4, 2021, goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died as the result of a fireworks accident in Novi, Mich.
This story will be updated.
(Photo: Ben Jackson / NHLI via Getty Images)
