The death of Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew continues to rock the hockey world.
The 31-year-old winger, who also played for the Calgary Flames for nine seasons, was believed to have been cycling with Matthew, 29, in Oldmans Township, Salem County, when they were struck and killed by a vehicle at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday night.
The brothers were in the area for their sister Katie’s wedding ceremony, which was scheduled for Friday, followed by a reception in Philadelphia.
Katie’s wedding website lists Johnny and Matthew as groomsmen.
However, a church official told TMZ that Katie Gaudreau and Devin Joyce’s wedding was cancelled in the wake of the tragedy.
Johnny leaves behind his wife Meredith, whom he married in September 2021, and two young children in one-year-old daughter Noa and six-month-old son Johnny.
Matthew leaves behind Madeline, his wife of three years.
Both Meredith and Madeline were also part of the wedding party, serving as two of three maids of honour for Katie.
New Jersey State Police Troopers confirmed in a statement to the Daily Mail that they responded to a crash at 8:19 p.m.
Sean M. Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, N.J., was driving behind two vehicles and attempted to pass them when he struck Johnny and Matthew from behind.
“As a result of the collision, the two pedal cyclists sustained fatal injuries,” the statement read.
“Through further investigation, Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, charged with two counts of death by auto, and lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility.”
Higgins reportedly admitted to police that he drank “five to six beers” before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and crashing into the back of the Gaudreau brothers, according to TMZ.
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The investigation is ongoing.
Johnny played 11 seasons in the NHL and was going into his third with the Blue Jackets.
Matthew was a professional hockey player in the ECHL, most recently playing for the Worcester Railers in the 2021-22 season.