Maurya Srivastava
On August 29th, 2024, Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were struck and killed while biking outside of Philadelphia. Authorities arrived at the scene in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, around 8:19 p.m. and found that both Gaudreaus had sustained fatal injuries while cycling: they had been hit from behind by a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was attempting to pass the SUV which had moved over to make way for them. The wives of both brothers were expecting, and the Gaudreaus were in town for their sister’s wedding.
The driver, Sean Higgins, aged 43, confessed to drinking five to six beers before hitting the cyclists. His BAC was measured .087%, higher than the legal limit of .08%, by New Jersey State Police after they arrived at the scene. Higgins has been charged with two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of an open container, and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. Higgins faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted and has notably expressed no remorse at his actions.
In response to Gaudreau’s death, numerous North American sports teams, prominent figures, and organizations paid tribute. All 32 NHL teams released statements, along with many hockey players, athletes from other sports, and politicians, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Makeshift memorials for fans also appeared outside Gaudreau’s home rinks, the Blue Jackets’ Nationwide Arena and the Flames’ Scotiabank Saddledome, as well as at the site of the collision and other significant locations connected to the Gaudreau family.
While his brother Matthew had notable accomplishments in the NCAA, leading the Boston College Eagles in total points last season, Johnny Gaudreau left an undeniable impact on the sport of hockey. Known as “Johnny Hockey,” Gaudreau played 805 games in the NHL and was set to enter his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets after signing a seven-year, $68 million contract with the team in 2022. Gaudreau spent his first eight seasons with as a Calgary Flame, where he emerged as one of the sport’s top players and became a fan favorite across Canada, despite his American heritage.
Before his tenure in Calgary, Gaudreau was an NCAA legend: he played three seasons of Division One ice hockey for Boston College from 2011-2014, and was selected 104th overall in the NHL draft by the Flames. Amidst questions about whether he would go pro or continue to play for BC in his junior year, Gaudreau elected to stay in the NCAA to play with his brother, who had just joined the team as a freshman. In 2013, Johnny won a gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, leading the tournament in goals scored. He would make Team USA three more times in his career. The following year, Johnny Hockey became the 2014 recipient of the Hobey Baker Award, awarded to the best player in all of college hockey
During his first full NHL season, Gaudreau was chosen to participate in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game and earned a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team. He was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s top rookie, and the following season received the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the most gentlemanly player in the league. Gaudreau was named an NHL All-Star for the next four consecutive seasons. After a slight dip in performance during the pandemic, the all star had his first 100+ point season as part of a dominant Calgary first line, with centreman Elias Lindholm, and Matthew Tkachuk on the right wing. For reference, only 126 players in history have surpassed the mark of 100 points in a single season. In this record 2021-2022 season, Johnny Gaudreau finished second in points only to Connor McDavid, who, since his performance in last season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, has been hailed as the next Wayne Gretzky. Gaudreau also set the record for the second most points ever scored by a Calgary Flame in one season. After advancing to the 2022 playoffs, the team was defeated in a riveting “Battle of Alberta” against the Edmonton Oilers. Following contract difficulties, Gaudreau joined the Columbus Blue Jackets as a free agent, where he had two additional successful seasons. Johnny never got the chance to put together a full NHL career like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux or Gordy Howe, yet everyone who followed the sport knew who he was: a player that made up for his lack of size with skill, energy, and speed.
Aside from his contributions to the sport of hockey, Johnny Gaudreau is remembered by friends and teammates for his actions off the ice. Longtime USA Hockey executive and friend Brian Burke effectively summed up Gaudreau’s character:
“First and foremost, Johnny was always the first to raise his hand to give back to his community. When we had any charity requests, we always knew he would say yes, without hesitation,” he said. “His love of his family, friends and alma mater was always apparent and was clearly the driving force in his life.”
Johnny Hockey will be missed dearly by fans, coaches, teammates, and everyone else in the hockey community.
The Dutch Report 