What to know about Johnny Gaudreau, Blue Jackets All-Star killed in biking accident
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed Thursday in what the team says was an "unimaginable tragedy" when both men were struck by a suspected drunk driver while riding a pedalcycle, according to New Jersey State Police.
Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29, and authorities say the driver who struck the men is being charged with two counts of death by auto. Both were in town to attend their sister's wedding, which was scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia.
Johnny Gaudreau played in 763 regular-season games in the NHL for 11 seasons. He scored 243 goals and had 500 assists for the Calgary Flames and Blue Jackets. Gaudreau made the All-Star team in 2023, scoring 12 goals with 48 assists in 81 games last season.
He is survived by his wife, Meredith; their children, Noa and Johnny; his parents, Guy and Jane; and sisters, Kristen and Katie.
Here is more on the life and career of Johnny Gaudreau.
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Johnny Gaudreau college career
Gaudreau was born on Aug. 13, 1993, in Salem, New Jersey, and he played his high school hockey at Gloucester Catholic High School before joining the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League in 2010.
He went on to attend Boston College and immediately made an impact, helping the Eagles win the national championship in 2012 during his freshman season.
In his junior season, Gaudreau, nicknamed "Johnny Hockey," scored an NCAA-best 36 goals and added 44 assists, winning the Hobey Baker Award, given to the nation's best hockey player and winning the Hockey East Player of the Year award twice.
While in college, he also scored seven goals to help the United States win a gold medal at the U20 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Johnny Gaudreau NHL career
The Calgary Flames drafted Gaudreau in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL draft, but he didn't join the team until the 2013-14 season after his collegiate career ended. He was a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year in 2014-15 and was named to the All-Rookie Team.
Gaudreau spent nine seasons with the Flames, earning six all-star nods. His best season was in 2021-22 when he scored 40 goals and racked up a career-high 115 points.
Hitting the free agent market after that season, Gaudreau signed a seven-year, $68.25 million deal with the Blue Jackets. He had 21 goals and 53 assists in his first season with Columbus.
Johnny Gaudreau off the ice
In 2017, Gaudreau won the Lady Byng Trophy, which is given to the NHL's most "gentlemanly" player.
Gaudreau helped orchestrate in February a team-wide initiative to bring awareness to men's mental health. The Blue Jackets donated $1,000 a point through the "Laine Gives Back" program in Columbus after former Blue Jackets players Patrik Laine was the subject of social media attacks for personal mental health struggles.
The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, contributed to this report.