NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau And Brother Killed Hours Before Sister's Wedding

NHL star forward Johnny Gaudreau, also known as “Johnny Hockey,” was killed alongside his brother, Matthew, in a suspected drunken driving incident Thursday while riding bicycles in New Jersey, authorities said. Their deaths appear to have come hours before their sister’s wedding scheduled nearby.

The two brothers were riding in Oldmans Township, about 30 miles southwest of Philadelphia, when a driver believed to be under the influence of alcohol struck them from behind around 8 p.m. while attempting to pass other vehicles, New Jersey State Police said.

Driver Sean Higgins, 43, was arrested on two counts of death by automobile and booked into the Salem County Correctional Facility. The crash remains under investigation, police said.

Gaudreau, 31, played 11 seasons with the NHL and participated in the NHL All-Star Game seven times. He signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022 while a free agent following nine seasons with the Calgary Flames.

Ina statement, the Columbus Blue Jackets hailed Gaudreau as “not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”

“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,” the team said.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also memorialized Gaudreau in a statement as “a dazzling” and “skilled playmaker,” who was “always a fan favorite, particularly while showcasing his talents in the various skills competitions for which he was so well suited.”

“Gaudreau often told the story of how his father taught him to skate as a child in his home state of New Jersey and he carried that same youthful passion throughout his 11 NHL seasons,” Bettman