NHL

NHL Fans Emotionally React To Biking Deaths Of Hockey Brothers Johnny, Matthew Gaudreau

By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than three decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published30 Aug 2024

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Back home in New Jersey for what should have been a weekend of family celebration, NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, and his brother, Matthew, went out for a bike ride when tragedy struck.

Both of the brothers were struck by a vehicle Thursday and later died, state authorities announced Friday.  

According to the New Jersey State Police, a driver attempted to pass an SUV on the right and struck the “pedalcyclists.” Upon arriving at the scene at 8:19 p.m. ET, the officers responded to the fatal injuries the Gaudreaus suffered.  

The driver may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. Sean Higgins, 43, was charged with two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of an open container and consumption in a motorized vehicle. Higgins failed a field sobriety test, according to a probable cause affidavit. 

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, played 11 NHL seasons with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, producing 243 goals among 743 points in 763 career games. Matthew Gaudreau, 29, appeared in 127 ECHL games for the Worcester Railers and Reading Royals. Both brothers played at Boston College.  

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau recently returned to Oldmans Township, N.J., to celebrate their sister’s weekend wedding.

X (Twitter) users collectively posted their condolences to the Gaudreau family … 

Remembering “Johnny Hockey,” the nickname he earned at BC, Bobby Carpenter, a former NFL and Ohio State linebacker, summarized the tragedy the best he could … 

At 5-foot-9, 163 pounds, Gaudreau earned a reputation for being a top-six sparkplug, securing a career-best 40-goal season in his final season with the Flames in 2021-22. The Flames drafted Gaudreau in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL draft. Commissioner Gary Bettman issued a statement on the tragedy … 

Gaudreau signed a seven-year, $68.25 million free-agent deal with the Blue Jackets before the 2022-23 campaign. In two seasons with the franchise, he dressed for all but three regular-season games and scored a combined 33 goals. The organization was “shocked and devastated by the unimaginable tragedy” …

Named a 2023 All-Star, Gaudreau scored 12 goals among 60 points last season. He earned the respect of his opponents. The Pittsburgh Penguins stated, “Johnny played each game with joy and his love for the game of hockey” … 

The Bridgeport Islanders praised the highly competitive brothers: “They both were tremendous ambassadors for the sport of hockey and even better people in the community.” Johnny Gaudreau appeared in 17 games with the then-Bridgeport Sound Tigers from 2017-19 … 

The Railers’ organization remembered a member of the franchise’s original squad …

The Royals were “deeply saddened … we offer our sincerest condolences to the Gaudreau family and their friends at this time” …

Johnny Gaudreau earned consecutive Hockey East Player of the Year awards and the 2014 Hobey Baker Award recipient as the college hockey’s top player. The Hockey Hall of Fame joined the hockey community in mourning the tragic loss of the brothers … 

The elder brother guided Boston College to the national championship in 2012 and dressed for the national program. USA Hockey expressed “words cannot appropriately express the sorrow the hockey community is feeling today” … 

Sad, but true … 

Responding to the tragedy, “OfficerPapadopoulos” provided a stern message – and warning … 

The Boston hockey community and Beanpot family promise to help keep the memory of the Gaudreau brothers alive …