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

(CNN) — NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother were fatally struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bikes on a New Jersey roadway, officials said, just hours before they were to serve as groomsmen in their sister’s wedding.

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

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

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were riding bicycles around 8:19 p.m. Thursday on a county road in Oldmans Township – a community in southern New Jersey near the Delaware River – when a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was attempting to pass two slower-moving vehicles hit them, according to New Jersey State Police.

The Jeep driver, who police identified as 43-year-old Sean Higgins, is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide in the second degree, according to the complaint. “Through further investigation, Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol,” State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron said in a news release.

Higgins stated he had consumed roughly five to six beers before the accident, according to a probable cause affidavit filed with the Salem County Superior Court Friday.

“Mr. Higgins explicitly stated to the effect that his consumption of alcoholic beverages contributed to his impatience and reckless driving, which resulted in the motor vehicle accident,” the affidavit states.

Higgins made his first appearance in court Friday afternoon but did not enter a plea, according to Salem County court criminal division manager Crystal Harris. He is being held without bond at the Salem County Correctional Facility pending a detention motion hearing on September 5, Harris said.

The Gaudreau brothers were scheduled to serve as groomsmen Friday afternoon at their sister’s wedding in Philadelphia, according to her online registry page at TheKnot.com.

“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 amazing humans,” their uncle Jim Gaudreau said Friday morning in a family statement on Facebook. “We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers.”

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

During Higgins’ court appearance, Judge Michael J. Silvanio said the charges against him are punishable by a maximum of 10 years in New Jersey state prison. Higgins is being represented by a public defense attorney, but he said at the hearing he will hire his own lawyer in the future to represent him.

At the end of the court appearance, Higgins seemed apparently taken aback after he was told he’d be held at the jail pending his next hearing, saying to the judge: “So, I’m here until Thursday?”

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

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 ahead of the 2022-2023 season and tallied 12 goals and 48 assists last season.

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

“Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets. He thrilled fans in a way only Johnny Hockey could.

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

In 11 seasons in the league, Gaudreau had 243 career goals and 743 points while making seven All-Star game appearances.

“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 doting father and beloved husband, son, brother and teammate who endeared himself to every person fortunate enough to have crossed his path,” Bettman said.

Hockey reporter Dave Maetzold, appearing on “TNT Sports Tonight” on Friday, said the NHL player was “the most modest superstar you’d ever want to meet” and a “likable guy who was reluctantly in the spotlight.”

Maetzold, a Bally Sports Ohio rinkside reporter, knew Gaudreau through his job covering the team.

Gaudreau comes from a tight-knit hockey family, Maetzold said, and his father was a regular attendee at his games.

“He would be there right alongside the ice, just as he was when Johnny was a young player. His mom was there all the time,” Maetzold said. “He comes from a tight-knit family and was building a tight-knit family. Just a horrible tragedy from a family perspective.”

Longtime NHL executive Brian Burke noted in a statement on X that Gaudreau brought ”kindness that radiated out through the locker room every day” and there were “few players in hockey history who matched his passion and love for the game.”

“Johnny was always the first to raise his hand to give back to his community,” Burke said. “When we had charity requests, we always knew he would say yes, without hesitation.”

‘Their loss will be felt forever.’ Community mourns beloved brothers

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy in a statement said “the people of New Jersey grieve” with the Gaudreau family. Murphy noted how the brothers “discovered their love for hockey in the rinks of South Jersey, and followed their passion up to Boston, where both brothers quickly emerged as star players on the Boston College men’s hockey team.”

Matthew Gaudreau returned to the brothers’ alma mater in New Jersey, Gloucester Catholic High School, in 2022 to serve as ice hockey coach, a position he held until this summer.

“Johnny and Matt were incredible hockey players and students, but even more amazing human beings,” principal Thomas Iacovene Jr. said in a statement released by the school Friday. “Their loss will be felt forever by the entire Gloucester Catholic community and by me personally.”

The Boston College men’s hockey team head coach Greg Brown and former head coach Jerry York shared memories of the brothers at a news conference Friday.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Brown said of their loss. “The Gaudreau family is so close, they’re so tight. There’s just so many people here that were affected by them, their teammates, everybody who knew them. The fact that they were together is horrific but ironic because they were that tight a family.”

The coaches spoke on the impact Johnny and Matthew had on the hockey program at Boston College, both on and off the rink. “They brought a ton of joy to the rink. They were happy to be there, truly happy to be there, big smiles all the time,” Brown said of his time coaching the brothers.

“The things they could do on the ice, that’s what people who don’t know them remember because they were both magical in their own ways, but everyone just loved having them on the team, they were tremendous teammates,” he continued. “They lit up the room when they came in.”

York recalled the bond between the two brothers being particularly strong and credited Matthew for pushing Johnny to becoming an NHL star. The former head coach said he was in touch with the brothers’ parents after learning about the tragedy, reminding them “how special they were” to the college team.

The brothers’ sister Katie, always clad in Boston College Eagles gear, “never missed a game,” York said. “… And for her to be getting married, the whole thing is so hard, but we’ll have a great contingent coming from here down to the wake and the funeral.”