NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau and His Brother Dead After Biking Accident

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NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau and His Brother Killed in New Jersey Bike Accident

The Columbus Blue Jackets are mourning the loss of an all-star player.

Johnny Gaudreau, a forward for the Ohio-based hockey team has died, along with his brother Matthew Gaudreau, his team confirmed. Johnny was 31, while Matthew was 29.

“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy,” Johnny’s team wrote in an Aug. 30 statement. “Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”

The Gaudreau brothers were biking on a rural New Jersey road at around 8 p.m. on the evening of Aug. 29 when Sean M. Higgins, 43, collided with them from the rear while attempting to pass another SUV traveling northbound, New Jersey sargeant Jeffrey Lebron told E! News in a statement.

Lebron added that "Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol," and has been charged with "two counts of death by auto." He is currently being held at Salem County Correctional Facility and the crash continues to be investigated.

E! News has reached out to attorneys for Higgins but has not yet heard back.

Johnny—who had played 11 seasons in the NHL on the Blue Jackets as well as the Calgary Flames—had welcomed his son, Johnny Edward Gaudreau with wife Meredith Gaudreau in February, and was also dad to 23-month-old daughter, Noa.

Matthew, meanwhile, is survived by his wife of two years, Madeline Gaudreau.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their family and friends on the sudden loss of Johnny and Matt,” the Blue Jackets’ statement continued. “Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice.”

The Gaudreau brothers, who were natives of New Jersey, both played on hockey teams throughout their life, and were teammates at Boston College.

As Matthew wrote in a Nov. 2013 Instagram post of the pair, “First NCAA college game together.”

Matthew Gaudreau/Instagram

And while 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 wife celebrating the end of the previous NHL season in an April Instagram post, noting, “Love our guy so much!”

Ben Jackson/NHLI via Getty Images

Indeed, the legacy Johnny—who was affectionately nicknamed “Johnny Hockey”—leaves behind in his sport is immense.

“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,” the Blue Jackets statement concluded. "Johnny embraced our community when he arrived two years ago, and Columbus welcomed him with open arms. We will miss him terribly and do everything that we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy.”

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