By Charlie Gainor, Staff Writer

Former Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by a drunk driver last Thursday.

According to New Jersey State Police, the Gaudreau brothers were riding bikes on a county road about 35 miles outside Philadelphia when they were struck from behind by a Jeep. The driver, 43-year-old Sean Higgins, was arrested and charged with two counts of death by auto, reckless driving and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle after failing a field sobriety test. The brothers were pronounced dead at the scene. Johnny was 31 years old and Matthew was 29 years old.

Johnny Gaudreau, a native of the Philadelphia area, played for the Little Flyers in Aston, Pennsylvania before playing for Boston College from 2011 to 2014. He helped lead the Eagles to a national championship in 2012 and won the Hobey Baker Award in 2014, which is often thought of as the Heisman trophy equivalent for college hockey. A Boston College spokesperson called Johnny “not only one of the greatest players in the history of Boston College hockey, but one of the nicest as well.”

The Calgary Flames picked up Gaudreau in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft. In his eight seasons with Calgary, Gaudreau scored 210 goals and had 399 assists for 609 points, the fifth most in franchise history, and was nicknamed “Johnny Hockey” for his elite shooting prowess and universally praised off-ice personality. In 2017, Gaudreau was awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct.

“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,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “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’s best season came in the last year of his contract with Calgary in 2021-22. With 115 points and a league-high plus-minus of 64, Johnny Hockey led the Flames to 111 points and the 2nd seed in the Western Conference playoffs. In Game 7, Gaudreau scored the series-clinching goal in overtime to defeat the Dallas Stars and advance to the second round, where they lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games. He finished fourth in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy commemorating the most valuable player, finishing behind Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid and Igor Shesterkin.

“Our hearts are broken by this devastating loss,” the Flames said in a statement. “It was our privilege to call Johnny our teammate for nine amazing years in Calgary. He came to Calgary as a young man and grew up here, not only as a superstar on the ice, but also a beloved member of our community.”

Gaudreau signed a seven-year, $68 million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets in July 2022. He continued to excel at the game. He was selected as an All-Star in 2023 and finished the 2023-24 season averaging almost a point per game.

“He thrilled fans in a way only Johnny Hockey could,” the Blue Jackets said in a statement. “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. 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.”

Johnny’s brother Matthew played with his brother at Boston College from 2013 to 2017 before being drafted by the New York Islanders. He spent his career in the minor league affiliates American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League before becoming a coach.

Johnny leaves behind his wife Meredith and two children. Matthew leaves behind his expecting wife Madeline. Both are survived by their parents and sister, whose wedding they were in town for. 

Informal memorials have been organized in front of Nationwide Arena in Columbus, the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary and Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, New Jersey. The Cincinnati Reds held a moment of silence before their game against the Brewers on Friday to honor the brothers, and Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez dedicated the team’s victory on Saturday to the brothers.