Kevin Hayes gives touching remembrance of friend as hockey world grieves a stunning and awful loss
The hockey world is in a state of shock today after the tragic deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau on Thursday night. Here’s the AP story:
NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother were killed Thursday night when they were hit by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey, police said Friday.
Gaudreau, 31, and brother, Matt, 29, are Carneys Point, New Jersey, natives and were scheduled to be groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding that was scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia.
New Jersey State Police said the Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road when a man driving an SUV in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind about 8 p.m., less than a half-hour after sunset. They were pronounced dead on the scene.
Police said the driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. He was jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility.
It’s a sad an unimaginable loss for the family, and we all extend whatever feelings and words of condolence that can be mustered up. It hardly is enough, yet is all one can do at a terrible time like this.
Tributes from those who knew and loved Johnny and Matt are pouring in across social media to remember the brothers.
A touching remembrance came from Penguin forward Kevin Hayes, who shared an Instagram story about the man known as Johnny Hockey. Hayes and Johnny played together for three seasons as Boston College from 2011-14. In the picture is Beau, the young son of Kevin’s brother Jimmy — a fellow former BC (2008-11) player who passed away in 2021. Like the Hayes brothers, both Gaudreaus were also BC alums, Matt played on the hockey team from 2013-17.
