Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother were killed Thursday night while riding their bicycles in New Jersey, police said Friday. Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, died after being struck by a vehicle in Oldmans Township, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Trenton. The 43-year-old driver of the car that struck the brothers was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, police said.
National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman said he was shocked and saddened by the death of Gaudreau, whose “infectious spirit for the game and sensational skills on the ice earned him the nickname 'Johnny Hockey.'”
Gaudreau, who represented Team USA at world championships, played his first nine seasons for the Calgary Flames before joining the Blue Jackets in 2022.
According to local media, the Gaudreau brothers had returned to their home in New Jersey to attend the wedding of one of their sisters on Friday. “The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more importantly, a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend,” the club said in a statement.
“He thrilled fans in a way that only Johnny Hockey could. The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but it pales in comparison to the indelible impression he left on all who knew him.
“Johnny embraced our community when he arrived two years ago and Columbus welcomed him with open arms. We will miss him greatly and do everything we can to support his family and ourselves during this tragedy,” the team added.
His former club, the Calgary Flames, also paid tribute to their former player and his brother. “We are heartbroken by this devastating loss. Johnny was and always will be a member of the Flames family and loved by all of Calgary,” they said.
“We were privileged to have Johnny as a teammate for nine incredible years in Calgary. He came to Calgary as a young man and grew up here, not only as a superstar on the ice, but also as a beloved member of our community.
“The pain we feel for Johnny's wife Meredith, his children Noa and Johnny, his parents Jane and Guy, his sisters Kristen and Katie, and the entire Gaudreau family is immense.”
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