Wat-Not Staff
The NHL player, 31, and Matthew, 29, perished in a bicycling accident in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, on Thursday, August 29, near their Salem County homeland. According to a wedding website, they were supposedly in their hometown on Friday to participate as groomsmen in their sister’s wedding.
How the tragic accident took place
Just after 8 p.m., Johnny and Matthew were riding on Country Route 551 North when a driver who appeared to be intoxicated tried to overtake another vehicle and struck and killed the brothers, according to New Jersey State Police, who spoke with PEOPLE. Sean M. Higgins, the driver, was detained and charged with two counts of death by auto; the police claimed that the investigation is still ongoing. On Friday, August 30, the Blue Jackets released a statement to X (previously known as Twitter) confirming the deaths.
“This unbelievable tragedy has stunned and traumatized the Columbus Blue Jackets. In addition to being a fantastic hockey player, Johnny was also a devoted son, brother, spouse, and father. We express our sincere condolences for the untimely loss of Johnny and Matthew to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their relatives, and friends,” the statement said.
Blue Jackets statement after the loss
“Everyone who saw Johnny on the rink could see how happy he was playing the game. Everywhere he played, from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets, he carried a sincere passion for hockey with him. “He delighted supporters in a manner that only Johnny Hockey could,” it went on. The group said, “His lasting influence on everyone he encountered is far more significant than the significant impact he made on our organization and our sport. When Johnny came to Columbus two years ago, he embraced our community and was greeted with open arms.”
“We shall sincerely miss him and will do everything in our power to help his family and one another get through this terrible time”. The statement concluded, saying, “At this time, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau family and that their privacy be respected as they grieve.” Johnny was survived by his wife, Meredith, and their two children, son Johnny, who is seven months old, and daughter Noa, who turns two in October.
Their personal lives
Before Johnny, the 2014 Hobey Baker Award winner for best collegiate hockey player, turned pro and was selected by the Calgary Flames, both brothers were players at Boston College. A finalist for the NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy, which goes to the best rookie, Johnny—also known as “Johnny Hockey”—won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2017 as the league’s finest offensive player with the highest level of sportsmanship. Gaudreau signed a seven-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022, following eight seasons with the Flames.
After earning his degree from Boston College in 2017, Matthew played minor league baseball for a number of clubs, most notably the Worcester Railers in 2022. According to Elite Prospects, he has spent the previous two years as the head coach of Gloucester Catholic High in New Jersey, their high school squad. Madeline, Matthew’s third wife, was surviving him.
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