The hockey world is in mourning over the tragic news that Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bikes in New Jersey.

Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, both played hockey at Gloucester Catholic High School and Boston College before starting their professional careers. Johnny played 763 NHL games with the Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames. Matthew played five seasons in the American Hockey League, the ECHL and in Sweden.

Friday morning, as news spread, Blue Jackets fans flocked to Nationwide Arena in Columbus to pay their respects.

The Gaudreau brothers grew up in southern New Jersey, but during their time at BC they became deeply rooted in the storied history of New England hockey.

Johnny and Matthew played together for Boston College for seven years and left an indelible impression on the Chestnut Hill community.

Spittin’ Chiclets podcast co-host and NHL Network analyst Ryan Whitney played three years at Boston University before going on to a 481-game NHL career. Johnny Gaudreau has appeared on the podcast several times.

Mark Majewski worked for Boston College’s athletic department during the Gaudreaus’ time there. Johnny Gaudreau helped the Eagles to the 2012 national championship and won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top male player two years later.

The Flames drafted Johnny Gaudreau in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft after he led the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints to the Clark Cup title. Three years later, and two days after winning the Hobey Baker Award, he scored in his NHL debut.

Gaudreau followed that up with a 24-goal, 64-point first full NHL season in 2014–15. He would make the NHL All-Rookie team and finish third in the Calder Trophy voting for rookie of the year.

Blake Coleman, Rasmus Andersson and Eddie Lack were teammates with Johnny Gaudreau with the Flames.

Mikael Backlund is the captain of the Flames and played with Johnny Gaudreau during his time in Calgary.

After nine seasons in Calgary, Gaudreau left via free agency to join the Blue Jackets in 2022. Part of his decision to sign in Columbus was to be closer to his family in southern New Jersey, where his wife Meredith was expecting the couple’s first child.

Jarmo Kekäläinen was the Blue Jackets’ general manager and signed Gaudreau through February 2024.

Longtime NHL hockey executive Brian Burke was president of hockey operations for the Flames when Johnny Gaudreau was in Calgary. Burke also served in various capacities for USA Hockey during several international tournaments in which Gaudreau participated.

Johnny Gaudreau represented the United States on the international stage several times, helping the Americans to a silver medal at the 2010 U-18 tournament, gold at the 2013 World Junior Championships and bronze at the 2018 World Championships.

Before their careers began at Boston College, the Gaudreaus played at Gloucester Catholic High School. After his playing career, Matthew Gaudreau coached the school’s hockey team for two seasons.

Johnny Gaudreau scored a lot of big goals during his hockey career. In his final season with the Flames, he was the hero of Game 7 when his goal knocked out the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Gaudreau recorded his best season as an NHL player that year with 40 goals and 115 points. He would finish fourth in voting for the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP.