NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother killed in New Jersey crash on the eve of their sister’s wedding

Thomas Schlachter and Andy Rose, CNN

(CNN) — NHL prima Johnny Gaudreau and his relative were fatally struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bikes connected a New Jersey roadway, officials said, conscionable hours earlier they were to service arsenic groomsmen successful their sister’s wedding.

The deaths of “Johnny Hockey,” known for his enthusiasm connected nan crystal and kindness disconnected it, and his related Matthew near nan sports world mourning.

Gaudreau’s team, nan Columbus Blue Jackets, called nan deaths an “unimaginable tragedy” successful a societal media station Friday.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were riding bicycles astir 8:19 p.m. Thursday connected a region roadworthy successful Oldmans Township – a organization successful confederate New Jersey adjacent nan Delaware River – erstwhile a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was attempting to walk 2 slower-moving vehicles deed them, according to New Jersey State Police.

The Jeep driver, who constabulary identified arsenic 43-year-old Sean Higgins, is charged pinch 2 counts of vehicular homicide successful nan 2nd degree, according to nan complaint. “Through further investigation, Higgins was suspected of being nether nan power of alcohol,” State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron said successful a news release.

Higgins stated he had consumed astir 5 to six beers earlier nan accident, according to a probable origin affidavit revenge pinch nan Salem County Superior Court Friday.

“Mr. Higgins explicitly stated to nan effect that his depletion of alcoholic beverages contributed to his impatience and reckless driving, which resulted successful nan centrifugal conveyance accident,” nan affidavit states.

Higgins made his first quality successful tribunal Friday day but did not participate a plea, according to Salem County tribunal criminal section head Crystal Harris. He is being held without enslaved astatine nan Salem County Correctional Facility pending a detention mobility proceeding connected September 5, Harris said.

The Gaudreau brothers were scheduled to service arsenic groomsmen Friday day astatine their sister’s wedding successful Philadelphia, according to her online registry page astatine TheKnot.com.

“Last nighttime we mislaid 2 husbands, 2 fathers, 2 sons, 2 brothers, 2 sons and brothers successful law, 2 nephews, 2 cousins, 2 family members 2 teammates, 2 friends but genuinely 2 astonishing humans,” their uncle Jim Gaudreau said Friday greeting successful a family connection connected Facebook. “We want to fto everyone cognize we are receiving your messages of emotion and support and we admit your continued thoughts and prayers.”

Matthew Gaudreau’s woman is expecting their baby, according to a Columbus Blue Jackets spokesperson.

During Higgins’ tribunal appearance, Judge Michael J. Silvanio said nan charges against him are punishable by a maximum of 10 years successful New Jersey authorities prison. Higgins is being represented by a nationalist defense attorney, but he said astatine nan proceeding he will prosecute his ain lawyer successful nan early to correspond him.

At nan extremity of nan tribunal appearance, Higgins seemed apparently taken aback aft he was told he’d beryllium held astatine nan jailhouse pending his adjacent hearing, saying to nan judge: “So, I’m present until Thursday?”

‘Johnny Hockey’ described arsenic fierce and passionate player, devoted father

Johnny Gaudreau was drafted by nan Calgary Flames successful nan 4th information of nan 2011 NHL Draft retired of Boston College.

He signed pinch nan Columbus Blue Jackets up of nan 2022-2023 play and tallied 12 goals and 48 assists past season.

“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a awesome lucky player, but much importantly a loving husband, father, son, relative and friend. We widen our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their family and friends connected nan abrupt nonaccomplishment of Johnny and Matthew,” nan Blue Jackets said successful nan statement.

“Johnny played nan crippled pinch awesome joyousness which was felt by everyone that saw him connected nan ice. He brought a genuine emotion for lucky pinch him everyplace he played from Boston College to nan Calgary Flames to Team USA to nan Blue Jackets. He thrilled fans successful a measurement only Johnny Hockey could.

“The effect he had connected our statement and our athletics was profound, but pales successful comparison to nan indelible belief he made connected everyone who knew him,” nan connection continued.

In 11 seasons successful nan league, Gaudreau had 243 profession goals and 743 points while making 7 All-Star crippled appearances.

“The National Hockey League family is shocked and saddened by nan tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets guardant Johnny Gaudreau and his relative Matthew,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said successful a statement.

“While Johnny’s infectious tone for nan crippled and show-stopping skills connected nan crystal earned him nan nickname ‘Johnny Hockey,’ he was much than conscionable a dazzling lucky player; he was a doting begetter and beloved husband, son, relative and teammate who endeared himself to each personification fortunate capable to person crossed his path,” Bettman said.

Hockey newsman Dave Maetzold, appearing connected “TNT Sports Tonight” connected Friday, said nan NHL subordinate was “the astir humble superstar you’d ever want to meet” and a “likable feline who was reluctantly successful nan spotlight.”

Maetzold, a Bally Sports Ohio rinkside reporter, knew Gaudreau done his occupation covering nan team.

Gaudreau comes from a tight-knit lucky family, Maetzold said, and his begetter was a regular attendee astatine his games.

“He would beryllium location correct alongside nan ice, conscionable arsenic he was erstwhile Johnny was a young player. His mom was location each nan time,” Maetzold said. “He comes from a tight-knit family and was building a tight-knit family. Just a horrible calamity from a family perspective.”

Longtime NHL executive Brian Burke noted successful a connection connected X that Gaudreau brought ”kindness that radiated retired done nan locker room each day” and location were “few players successful lucky history who matched his passion and emotion for nan game.”

“Johnny was ever nan first to raise his manus to springiness backmost to his community,” Burke said. “When we had kindness requests, we ever knew he would opportunity yes, without hesitation.”

‘Their nonaccomplishment will beryllium felt forever.’ Community mourns beloved brothers

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy successful a connection said “the group of New Jersey grieve” pinch nan Gaudreau family. Murphy noted really nan brothers “discovered their emotion for lucky successful nan rinks of South Jersey, and followed their passion up to Boston, wherever some brothers quickly emerged arsenic prima players connected nan Boston College men’s lucky team.”

Matthew Gaudreau returned to nan brothers’ alma mater successful New Jersey, Gloucester Catholic High School, successful 2022 to service arsenic crystal lucky coach, a position he held until this summer.

“Johnny and Matt were unthinkable lucky players and students, but moreover much astonishing quality beings,” main Thomas Iacovene Jr. said successful a connection released by nan schoolhouse Friday. “Their nonaccomplishment will beryllium felt everlastingly by nan full Gloucester Catholic organization and by maine personally.”

The Boston College men’s lucky squad caput coach Greg Brown and erstwhile caput coach Jerry York shared memories of nan brothers astatine a news convention Friday.

“It’s difficult to put into words,” Brown said of their loss. “The Gaudreau family is truthful close, they’re truthful tight. There’s conscionable truthful galore group present that were affected by them, their teammates, everybody who knew them. The truth that they were together is horrific but ironic because they were that tight a family.”

The coaches said connected nan effect Johnny and Matthew had connected nan lucky programme astatine Boston College, some connected and disconnected nan rink. “They brought a ton of joyousness to nan rink. They were happy to beryllium there, genuinely happy to beryllium there, large smiles each nan time,” Brown said of his clip coaching nan brothers.

“The things they could do connected nan ice, that’s what group who don’t cognize them retrieve because they were some magical successful their ain ways, but everyone conscionable loved having them connected nan team, they were tremendous teammates,” he continued. “They lit up nan room erstwhile they came in.”

York recalled nan enslaved betwixt nan 2 brothers being peculiarly beardown and credited Matthew for pushing Johnny to becoming an NHL star. The erstwhile caput coach said he was successful touch pinch nan brothers’ parents aft learning astir nan tragedy, reminding them “how typical they were” to nan assemblage team.

The brothers’ sister Katie, ever clad successful Boston College Eagles gear, “never missed a game,” York said. “… And for her to beryllium getting married, nan full point is truthful hard, but we’ll person a awesome contingent coming from present down to nan aftermath and nan funeral.”