A National Hockey League player and his brother were killed riding their bikes in New Jersey after being struck by a car in late August two days before their sister’s wedding was to take place.
Columbus Blue Jackets’ winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were involved in the fatal bike accident.
Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were riding their bikes on the roadway when they were struck from behind by a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Both were in town as groomsmen to celebrate their sister Katie’s wedding.
The police identified the suspected drunk driver as 43 year-old Sean Higgins. He has been charged with two accounts of vehicular homicide in the second degree, according to police.
According to authorities, the Gaudreau brothers were biking on a road in Oldmans Township, NJ, when the SUV attempted to aggressively pass two vehicles in front of them. The brothers were struck from behind and tragically killed. Both were pronounced dead on the scene.
Higgins stated to police that he consumed “roughly five or six beers” before getting behind the wheel. He failed a field sobriety test, the complaint said, though his blood-alcohol level was not immediately available.
“Mr. Higgins explicitly stated to the effect that his consumption of alcoholic beverages contributed to his impatience and reckless driving, which resulted in the motor vehicle accident,” the affidavit states.
Judge Michael J. Silvanio said the charges against him are punishable by a maximum of 10 years in New Jersey state prison. Higgins is being represented by a public defense attorney, but he said at the hearing he will hire his own lawyer in the future to represent him.
Higgins is currently jailed at a Salem County Facility and will remain there until his hearing, which is reportedly scheduled for September 5th.
Johnny Gaudreau, or better known as “Johnny Hockey,” was part of the next wave of NHL superstars. He was drafted in the fourth round, 104th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, out of Boston College.
In college, he was a two-time First Team All-American on top of winning the Hobey Baker Award (NCAA MVP) and racking up the most points (80) in the 2013-14 NCAA season.
He averaged an outstanding 79 points per season through an 82-game average in his career. Gaudreau also just signed a massive 7-year, $68,250,000 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Gaudreau’s best year came in 2021-22, where he totaled 115 points in 82 games, making his first All-Star appearance as a starter and carrying the Calgary Flame to a playoff berth.
On top of being an elite player, Gaudreau was also the 2016-17 Lady Byng Trophy winner, given to the player who exemplifies the best sportsmanship and “gentlemanly conduct” along with playing at a high level. He was a finalist for this award in all of his eleven years in the NHL.
“He was an inspiration to every undersized young winger in youth hockey,” Hofstra University sophomore Jordan Kelly said. “Everyone, including myself, wanted to shoot the puck like he did.”
Johnny’s brother, Matthew, was also a pro hockey player. He spent time with the Stockton Heat, Worcester Rail Riders and Bridgeport Sound Tigers, both AHL teams. He also played four years at Boston College, totaling 63 points, and graduated with a communications degree.
Fans, players, former teammates, and family members alike poured out their love on various social media platforms after the tragic accident.
“Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers, two sons and brothers in law, two nephews, two cousins, two family members, two teammates, two friends but truly two amazing humans. We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers,” their uncle Jim Gaudreau said Friday morning in a family statement on Facebook.
Montreal Canadiens’ star winger Cole Caufield posted on Instagram that he will be switching over to number 13 next year to honor Gaudreau.
"The last few years playing as #22 have been some of the best years of my life," Caufield wrote. "It truly has been a dream come true and I will forever hold those memories and that number close to me. I wore #13 at a point in my career because of Johnny and now I will be wearing it again to honor him. He paved the way for smaller players and proved we had a future in this game at the highest level. I will forever be grateful to him for inspiring me and others."
The Blue Jackets hosted a candlelight service on September 4th at 7:30pm EST to honor the Gaudreau brothers, with many big names in attendance such as captain Boone Jenner, defenseman Erik Gudbranson, and forward Cole Sillinger.
“As a team, we’re going to get through this together,” Jenner said. “We’re going to grieve, cry, be vulnerable and support each other every step of the way, but we will persevere because I know that’s what Johnny would’ve wanted.”
In addition, a crowd of over a thousand fans huddled outside Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH to stand for 13 minutes and 21 seconds, in honor of both Johnny's and Matthew’s pro numbers.
At the annual NHLPA rookie showcase outside Washington, union executive director Marty Walsh said the tragedy has already had major effects around hockey.
“The deaths of Johnny and his brother are impacting a lot of players in the league as a whole and obviously is impacting their alma mater, Boston College, and the people in Boston,” Walsh said. “The tributes are beautiful to see. We’ve just got to continue to support the family the best we can.”
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