Columbus Blue Jackets player Johnny Gaudreau and younger brother Matthew’s family broke their silence Friday after the siblings were fatally struck by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey — remembering them as “truly two amazing humans.”
“Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, and brothers-in-law, two nephews, two cousins, two family members, two teammates, two friends but truly two amazing humans,” their father, Jim Gaudreau, said in a statement to news station WBZ-TV
“We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers. We ask for your continued respect and privacy during this very difficult period of grief,” the statement continued.
The tragic incident took place just one day before the brothers were set to be groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding to hockey player Devin Joyce in Gloucester City, NJ.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also recalled Gaudreau’s “infectious” spirit in a statement Friday.
“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,” Bettman said.
The team announced Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s deaths Friday morning on X.
The brothers were killed when they were struck by a car in an alleged drunk-driving incident around 8 p.m. Thursday while riding bikes in Oldmans Township, NJ, according to police.
The alleged drunk driver was Sean Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, who was charged with two counts of death by auto in connection with the devastating crash.
Higgins was glassy-eyed in his mugshot after the incident, in which he was traveling north in a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind a sedan and an SUV, the New Jersey State Police said.
He tried to pass the slower-moving cars by changing into the southbound lanes, the authorities said.
Higgins then passed the sedan and tried to re-enter the northbound lanes when the SUV in front of him moved into the middle of the roadway to safely pass the bicyclists on the right side of the road.
He then tried to move past the SUV on the right, and struck the brothers from behind, troopers said.
The trooper who arrived at the scene detected a “strong odor of alcohol,” according to the police affidavit.
Higgins allegedly told the trooper that he had “five to six beers” before the fatal crash.
Gaudreau, who was born in Salem, NJ, played for the Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames across 11 seasons in the NHL. Last season, he appeared in 81 games and tallied 48 points.
Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29.
Gaudreau leaves behind his wife, Meredith, and two children: Noa, 1, and Johnny, 6 months.
