Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew have died.

On Thursday, August 29, the NHL star, 31, and Matthew, 29, were killed in a bicycle accident in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, near their hometown of Salem County, PEOPLE has confirmed. They were reportedly in their hometown to act as groomsmen at their sister’s wedding on Friday, according to the wedding website.

Johnny and Matthew were riding their bikes on Country Route 551 North just after 8 p.m. when a driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol attempted to pass another car and fatally struck the brothers, New Jersey State Police told PEOPLE. The driver, Sean M. Higgins, was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and arrested. The investigation is ongoing, police said.

The Blue Jackets confirmed the deaths in a statement shared with X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, August 30.

“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but most importantly, a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their families and friends on the sudden loss of Johnny and Matthew,” the statement said.

“Johnny played the game with a passion that was evident to everyone 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 made fans happy in a way that only Johnny Hockey could,” it continued.

The team shared: “The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on all who knew him. Johnny embraced our community when he arrived two years ago and Columbus welcomed him with open arms.”

“We will miss him terribly and are doing everything 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,” the message concluded.

Johnny is survived by his wife Meredith and their two children: daughter Noa, who will be 2 in October, and son Johnny, 7 months old.

Both brothers played at Boston College before Johnny — who won the Hobey Baker Award in 2014, given to the best college hockey player — turned pro and was drafted by the Calgary Flames. Known as “Johnny Hockey” for his elite play, Johnny was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, the NHL’s award for the best rookie, and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2017 as the league’s best offensive player for athleticism. After eight seasons with the Flames, Gaudreau signed a seven-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022.

Matthew graduated from Boston College in 2017 and has played for several minor league teams since, most recently with the Worcester Railers in 2022. According to Elite Prospects, he has served as the head coach of their high school team, Gloucester Catholic High in New Jersey, for the past two years.

Matthew is survived by his wife of three years, Madeline.