Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were reportedly killed in a bicycle accident in New Jersey on Thursday night when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver. The NHL team confirmed the news of their deaths in a statement early Friday morning.

Gaudreau was 31 and his brother was 29.

Johnny Gaudreau, #13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets, reacts after scoring the game-tying goal in the third period of a game against the Washington Capitals at Nationwide Arena on January 31, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Ben Jackson/NHLI via Getty Images)

“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more importantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend,” their statement said.

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“We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Meredith, his children Noa and Johnny, his parents, their family and friends on the sudden loss of Johnny and Matthew.”

According to FOX 29, officials said the brothers were riding their bikes on a rural road in Oldmans Township around 8:30 p.m. when they were struck by a car. The driver of the car reportedly remained at the scene.

According to New Jersey State Police, the Gaudreau brothers were riding bicycles in the road when 43-year-old Sean Higgins, who was traveling in the same direction, attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind. They were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and booked into the Salem County Correctional Facility.

Brothers Johnny Gaudreau, #13, and Matthew Gaudreau, #21, of the Boston College Eagles, celebrate the Eagles’ victory over the Northeastern University Huskies to win their fifth consecutive Beanpot Championship in NCAA hockey during the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament finals at TD Garden on February 10, 2014 in Boston. (Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images)

Gaudreau, who joined the Blue Jackets in 2022 after a nine-year stint with the Calgary Flames, and his brother were reportedly set to be groomsmen at their sister’s wedding in Philadelphia on Friday, The Columbus Dispatch reported, citing a post on a wedding website.

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“Johnny played the game with a passion that was evident to all who saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love of hockey everywhere he played, from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets. He delighted fans in a way that only Johnny Hockey could. The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but it pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on all who knew him,” the Blue Jackets said in a statement.

“Johnny embraced our community when he arrived two years ago, and Columbus welcomed him with open arms. We will miss him terribly and will do all we can to support his family and each other during this tragedy. At this time, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau family and that their privacy be respected as they grieve.”

Johnny Gaudreau, #13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets, skates with the puck as goaltender Joey Daccord, #35 of the Seattle Kraken, defends the net during the second period of a game at Nationwide Arena on January 13, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Ben Jackson/NHLI via Getty Images)

Gaudreau and his brother both played hockey at Boston College. Matthew Gaudreau, 29, also played hockey for several minor league teams.

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“Johnny Hockey,” the nickname he earned in college after helping the Eagles win a national title in 2012, was drafted by the Flames in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft. He played nine seasons in Calgary before signing a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets in 2022.

“The National Hockey League family is shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “While Johnny’s infectious spirit for the game and show-stopping skills on the ice earned him the nickname ‘Johnny Hockey,’ he was more than just a dazzling hockey player; he was a devoted father and beloved husband, son, brother and teammate who endeared himself to all who were fortunate enough to cross his path.”

Johnny Gaudreau, #13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets, looks on during warmups before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on April 7, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images)

“He will be remembered fondly in Calgary, where he played his first nine seasons with the Flames from 2013-14 to 2021-22, developing into one of our league’s brightest young stars while posting the franchise’s fifth-highest point total. His loss will also be deeply felt in Columbus, the city where he chose to base his family and where he was one of the respected, veteran leaders of a club that was making a run for the playoffs. And both Johnny and Matthew will be mourned at Boston College, where they were teammates the year Johnny won the Hobey Baker Award in 2013-14, and at Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey, where they both played and where Matthew was the head hockey coach following his own five-year professional playing career.”

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