Johnny Gaudreau: Teams across US hold moment of silence as sports community mourns NHL star and his brother

CNN
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Beloved NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were remembered across the sports world on Friday following their tragic deaths in New Jersey late Thursday night.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were fatally struck by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bicycles on a New Jersey road, officials said, just hours before they were to serve as groomsmen at their sister’s wedding in Philadelphia.

“Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers, two sons and brothers-in-law, two nephews, two cousins, two family members, two teammates, two friends, but truly two wonderful people,” their uncle Jim Gaudreau said in a family statement posted to Facebook Friday morning.

Gaudreau’s team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, called the deaths an “unimaginable tragedy” in a social media post Friday.

In Major League Baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies held an emotional moment of silence before their game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. The team displayed a photo of the brothers from their days at Boston College on the video board while the announcer read a statement before calling for a moment of silence.

Phillies players lined the first base line in tribute.

Meanwhile, the New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds also each held a moment of silence before their games on Friday.

“We are devastated for our friends at the Blue Jackets with the tragic passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew,” the Cincinnati Reds said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Gaudreau family, their friends, the NHL and the entire Columbus Blue Jackets organization.”

Fans paid tribute to the late Blue Jackets star and his brother throughout the day on Friday with a makeshift memorial, laying flowers, hockey sticks and other memorabilia outside the team’s Nationwide Arena in Ohio.

The tributes to the brothers will continue until Saturday, as the Ohio State football team announced that the team will hold a moment of silence before kickoff of their season opener against Akron.

Members of Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew Nordecke supporters group plan to honor the Blue Jackets forward with a moment of silence during the 13th minute, during which Gaudreau’s jersey number will be displayed. The game will take place against New York City Football Club at Lower.com Field on Saturday.

The brothers were riding their bicycles on a county road in Oldmans Township, a southern New Jersey community near the Delaware River, around 8:19 p.m. Thursday when a Jeep Grand Cherokee attempting to pass two slower-moving vehicles struck them, New Jersey State Police said.

The driver of the Jeep, identified by police as 43-year-old Sean Higgins, is charged with two counts of second-degree criminal homicide, according to the criminal complaint.

“Upon further investigation, Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol,” State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron said in a news release.

Higgins said he had consumed about five to six beers before the crash, according to a probable cause affidavit filed Friday in Salem County Superior Court.

“Mr. Higgins explicitly stated that his alcohol consumption contributed to his impatience and reckless driving, which led to the motor vehicle accident,” the affidavit said.

Higgins made his initial court appearance Friday afternoon but did not enter a plea, said Crystal Harris, the criminal division manager for the Salem County District Court. He is being held without bail at the Salem County Correctional Facility pending a hearing on a motion for detention on Sept. 5, Harris said.

During Higgins’ court appearance, Judge Michael J. Silvanio said the charges against him could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison in the state of New Jersey. Higgins is being represented by a public defender, but he said during the hearing that he will hire his own attorney to represent him in the future.

‘Johnny Hockey’ was known for his enthusiasm on the ice and his friendliness off it

The deaths of “Johnny Hockey”, known for his enthusiasm on the ice and his friendliness off it, and his brother Matthew left the sports world in mourning.

Johnny Gaudreau was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft out of Boston College. He signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 2022-23 season and scored 12 goals and 48 assists last season. In 11 seasons in the league, Gaudreau has 243 career goals and 743 points, while appearing in the All-Star game seven times.

Following news of his death, hockey fans across the U.S. erected memorials in his honor. A makeshift memorial was erected by fans in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday. In Canada, fans laid flowers on the steps of the Scotiabank Saddledome to honor Johnny Gaudreau, who played there for the Calgary Flames.

“Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more importantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend,” the Blue Jackets said in a statement. “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.”

“The impact he had on our organization and our sport was immense, but pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on all who knew him,” the statement said.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement: “While Johnny’s infectious spirit for the game and his astonishing 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.”

Long-serving NHL executive Brian Burke noted in a statement about X that Gaudreau “brought a kindness that radiated through the locker room every day” and that there were “few players in hockey history who could match his passion and love for the game.”

“Johnny was always the first to raise his hand to give back to the community,” Burke said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also paid tribute to the NHL star.

“Johnny Gaudreau may be from the United States, but hockey fans in Calgary and across Canada will remember him as one of our own,” Trudeau said in a message on X.

In 2022, Matthew Gaudreau returned to the brothers’ New Jersey alma mater, Gloucester Catholic High School, to take over as coach of the ice hockey team, a role he held until this summer.

“Johnny and Matt were incredible hockey players and students, but even more amazing people,” Principal Thomas Iacovene Jr. said in a statement released by the school on Friday.

Boston College men’s hockey head coach Greg Brown and former head coach Jerry York spoke at a press conference Friday about the impact the brothers had on and off the rink.

York said the bond between the two brothers was exceptionally strong and he praised Matthew for pushing Johnny to become an NHL star.

“They brought a lot of joy to the rink. They were happy to be there, really happy to be there, always a big smile,” Brown said of his time coaching the brothers.