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Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau has passed away after he was struck by a car in Oldmans Township, Salem County while riding his bicycle on Thursday, according to New Jersey State police. He was 31. His brother Matthew also lost his life in the tragic accident.
Police confirm that the two were hit from behind by a driver who was trying to pass another car.
Forty-three year old Sean Higgins told police he had “about five or six beers” before the crash and failed a field sobriety test. He is charged with two counts of death by auto. The crash occurred at the intersection of Auburn Road and Stumpy Lane in Pedricktown just after 8 p.m.
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy,” the team wrote in a statement. “Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. 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 Matthew.”
Johnny Gaudreau
Aug. 13, 1993 – Aug. 29, 2024 pic.twitter.com/QGPsV4v7mv— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 30, 2024
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also released a statement on the passing of Johnny and Matthew:
“The National Hockey League family is shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. 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 crossed his path.
“Gaudreau often told the story of how his father taught him to skate as a child in his home state of New Jersey and he carried that same youthful passion throughout his 11 NHL seasons. A skilled playmaker, Gaudreau participated in the NHL All-Star Game seven times where he was always a fan favorite, particularly while showcasing his talents in the various skills competitions for which he was so well suited.
“He will be remembered fondly in Calgary, where he played his first nine seasons with the Flames from 2013-14 to 2021-22, emerging as one of our League’s brightest young stars while compiling the franchise’s fifth-highest career points total. His loss also will be felt profoundly in Columbus, the city in which he chose to settle his family and where he was one of the respected, veteran leaders of a club building toward the playoffs. And both Johnny and Matthew will be mourned at Boston College, where they were teammates the year Johnny won the Hobey Baker Award in 2013-14, and at Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey, where both played and where Matthew was the head hockey coach following his own five-year pro playing career.
“We send our most heart-felt condolences to his wife Meredith; their children, Noa and Johnny; his parents, Guy and Jane; and sisters Kristen and Katie. And we grieve alongside his teammates, members of the Blue Jackets and Flames organizations, his many friends in hockey and countless fans around the world for whom he created indelible memories on and off the ice.”
Johnny Hockey was one of the best playmakers of his generation, and will be in the conversation for admission into the Hockey Hall of Fame. This is a monumental loss for the hockey world, with social media being flooded with tributes and condolences on Friday.
Prayers go out to the friends and family of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau after this unimaginable tragedy.
