Blue Jackets star ahead Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, died Thursday night time, the crew mentioned. Police mentioned they have been killed whereas biking Thursday night time in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, near their hometown in Salem County, New Jersey.
Gaudreau, 31, was the Blue Jackets’ high ahead after signing in July 2022 as an unrestricted free agent from the Calgary Flames. In keeping with a put up on a well-liked marriage ceremony website, Gaudreau and his brother have been scheduled to be groomsmen of their sister’s marriage ceremony Friday in Philadelphia. Gaudreau had two younger kids, a daughter, Noa, and son, Johnny, along with his spouse Meredith and each have been born in Columbus.
Matthew Gaudreau was 29.
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How did Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau die?
The New Jersey state police mentioned the Gaudreau brothers died after a suspected drunk driver crashed into them shortly after 8 p.m. as they biked alongside a rural highway.
Sean Higgins, the motive force, was charged with two counts of loss of life by auto and brought to the Salem County Correctional Facility. Authorities haven’t mentioned when Higgins will make his preliminary courtroom look.
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Troopers suspected Higgins, 43, from Woodstown, New Jersey, was inebriated on the time of the crash, in line with a report launched Friday morning.
Higgins drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on a county highway when he pulled behind a sedan and SUV. He tried to move the slower-moving sedan and SUV earlier than coming into the highway’s southbound lanes.
The SUV in entrance of Higgins moved to the center of the highway, splitting the north and south lanes, to move the Gaudreau brothers touring north on their bikes.
Higgins tried to move the SUV on the correct and struck the 2 bicyclists within the rear, the freeway patrol mentioned. The brothers suffered deadly accidents.
Blue Jackets challenge assertion
The Blue Jackets launched the next assertion Friday morning:
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not solely an ideal hockey participant, however extra considerably a loving husband, father, son, brother and pal. We lengthen our heartfelt sympathies to his spouse, Meredith, his kids, Noa and Johnny, his dad and mom, their household and mates on the sudden lack of Johnny and Matthew. Johnny performed the sport with nice pleasure, which was felt by everybody that noticed him on the ice. He introduced a real love for hockey with him in every single place he performed, from Boston Faculty to the Calgary Flames to Group USA to the Blue Jackets.
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“He thrilled followers in a means solely Johnny Hockey might. The impression he had on our group and our sport was profound, however pales compared to the indelible impression he made on everybody who knew him. Johnny embraced our neighborhood whe he arrived two years in the past and Columbus welcomed him with open arms. We’ll miss him terribly and do every thing that we will to help his household and one another by means of this tragedy. Presently, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau household and that their privateness be revered as they grieve.”
A Blue Jackets spokesman mentioned the crew is not going to be making any additional feedback till a later date.
Gaudreau’s loss of life occurred three years after Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks was killed in a fireworks incident on July 4, 2021 in Novi, Michigan, on the dwelling of Manny Legacy, the crew’s former goalie coach.
After two disappointing seasons on the ice, Gaudreau went into this summer time with the intention of getting a rebound 12 months powered by his offseason coaching. That included taking part in for the US in Might on the males’s world championships in Czechia. Gaudreau impressed with three objectives, eight assists and 11 factors in eight video games to complete third on the crew in scoring and he tied for fourth within the event.
He additionally led the Blue Jackets with 12-48-60 in 81 video games final season, the second 12 months in a row Gaudreau led the crew in factors, nevertheless it was a 14-point drop from his first season in Columbus (2022-23). It was additionally 55 factors decrease than Gaudreau’s ultimate season in Calgary, which preceded his stunning choice in July 2022 to signal a seven-year take care of the Blue Jackets price $68.25 million.
The transfer was criticized throughout the NHL, particularly in Calgary, however Gaudreau by no means wavered in his main motive behind choosing the Blue Jackets. He and Meredith needed to lift their children in Columbus, which is nearer to their households in New Jersey. Gaudreau was additionally impressed Blue Jackets followers, who confirmed up in massive numbers the previous two years regardless of a mountain of losses.
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His purpose was to provide them extra to cheer about, and that problem received a lift July 1 with the Blue Jackets signing middle Sean Monahan, a detailed pal and former Flames teammate. Heading towards coaching camp, new coach Dean Evason appeared to have two of his three ahead spots stuffed on the highest line with Gaudreau at left wing and Monahan within the center. Now, per week after buying and selling Patrik Laine to the Montreal Canadiens, there’s a big void of confirmed elite wingers and a a lot greater vacancy within the hearts and minds of Gaudreau’s household, teammates and all those that knew him.