A tragedy has struck the NHL, the National Hockey League of North America and one of the most popular leagues in the United States, with the death of player Johnny Gaudreau from the Columbus Blue Jackets and his younger brother. Both died on Thursday night when they were hit by a driver suspected of being drunk while riding bicycles in Carneys Point, New Jersey, as reported by the police.
PUBLICIDAD
Jonnny Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, were from the area and were there for their sister Katie's wedding, scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia (north of Carneys Point), where they were going to be the best men.
PUBLICIDAD
How did the hit-and-run of the two brothers occur?
The New Jersey State Police reported on Friday that the Gaudreau brothers were riding their bicycles along a road when a man driving in the same direction attempted to overtake two other vehicles and struck them from behind, causing them fatal injuries.
The police said that the driver, Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter with a vehicle and was jailed at the Salem County Correctional Center.
Who was Johnny Gaudreau?
Known as "Johnny Hockey", he played 11 professional seasons in the league and was about to start his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He played his first nine seasons with the Calgary Flames and became one of the best players in the sport and a fan favorite in the United States and Canada.
"Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but, more significantly, he was a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend. Johnny played with great joy, which was evident to everyone who saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love for hockey to every place he played," said the Columbus team in a statement.
In international competitions, Gaudreau holds the records for assists (30) and points (43) in men's world championships by an American player, breaking the records previously set by Patrick Kane this year.
LeBron James, who is originally from Ohio, the state where the Blue Jackets play, wrote on his social media: “My thoughts and prayers are with the Gaudreau family. May Johnny and Matthew fly high, guide/protect, and bless their families from heaven”.
The death of Gaudreau is the latest off-ice tragedy affecting the Columbus Blue Jackets in recent years. Goalie Matiss Kivlenieks died in July 2021 when he was hit in the chest by a firework while attending the wedding of the daughter of the Blue Jackets’ then goaltending coach, Manny Legace, in Michigan.