RIP Johnny Gaudreau

[Donoghus]

I'm in shock right now.  Just absolutely devastating news. On the weekend of his sister's wedding.  Thoughts are with his family.

Johnny Hockey was an absolute BC hockey legend.  Led them to a national title. 

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/41053342/blue-jackets-winger-johnny-gaudreau-brother-matthew-die

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed Thursday when they were struck by a vehicle while riding bicycles, New Jersey State Police said in a release Friday.

Johnny Gaudreau was 31, and Matthew was 29.

According to police, a driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee hit two "pedalcyclists," identified as the Gaudreaus, from behind while trying to pass an SUV on the right that had moved over to make way for the two cyclists. Police, who responded to the scene in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, at 8:19 p.m., said both Gaudreaus suffered fatal injuries.

The driver is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and has been charged with two counts of death by auto, police said. They said the investigation is ongoing.

Both brothers, who were New Jersey natives, had been in the area to be groomsmen in their sister Katie's wedding that was scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia.

The Blue Jackets called the Gaudreaus' deaths an "unimaginable tragedy" in a statement on social media.

"Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice," the Blue Jackets wrote. "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."



Johnny Gaudreau played in 11 NHL seasons for the Flames and Blue Jackets. He joined Columbus on a seven-year contract starting with the 2022-23 season. He was an All-Star in 2023 and had posted 12 goals and 48 assists in 81 games last season.

"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."

Matthew Gaudreau also played hockey at Boston College and for various teams in the minor leagues.

Drafted by the Flames in the fourth round in 2011, Johnny Gaudreau attended Boston College, where he earned his "Johnny Hockey" nickname as he helped the Eagles win a national title in 2012. He won two straight Hockey East Player of the Year awards and was the 2014 winner of the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the top men's college player in the nation.

He signed with the Flames and scored a goal in his first and only game of the 2013-14 season. A year later, Gaudreau became one of the league's brightest rookies as he scored 24 goals and 64 points to help the Flames reach the playoffs. He went on to be a six-time All-Star with the Flames and scored a career-high 40 goals and 115 points in 2021-22.

At 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, Gaudreau was part of a generation of hockey players who thrived in an era of speed and skill that made being undersized less of a disadvantage. He scored 20-plus goals six times and was a point-per-game player with 642 points in 644 regular-season and playoff games.

Gaudreau emerged as an NHL prospect during his lone season with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2010-11. Led by future Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, the Fighting Saints won the USHL title, the Clark Cup, as the undersized but deftly skilled Gaudreau scored 36 goals and 72 points in 60 games before scoring five goals and 11 points in 11 playoff games. He represented the U.S. at the 2013 under-20 world junior championships, where he helped the nation win gold after scoring seven goals and nine points in seven games. He would go on to play for Team USA at five world championships and holds the men's world championship records by a U.S. player with 30 assists and 43 points, earlier this year breaking marks previously held by Patrick Kane.

Gaudreau's death is the latest off-ice tragedy to strike the Blue Jackets in the past few years. Goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died in July 2021 when he was struck in the chest by a firework while attending the wedding of then-Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace's daughter in Michigan.
ESPN's Ryan S. Clark and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Roy H.]

Terrible news.  That poor family.

And **** drunk drivers.  I hope the guy gets decades in prison.

[SparzWizard]

Terrible news.  That poor family.

And **** drunk drivers.  I hope the guy gets decades in prison.

Should be life sentence and personally should receive the death penalty. Drunk driving is a choice and easily could've been avoided and yet they made that decision knowingly.

Condolences to the victims and their families.

[Donoghus]

Eff this guy

https://x.com/annikadevils/status/1829580551205863565?s=46&t=cFAQIuWEg12FaJRo2itehw

The alleged drunk driver Sean Higgins is upset he is being held in jail till next week.
Everything I think to type after reading this will get my accounted suspended. Quoted from the NY Post.
 

[Roy H.]

Eff this guy

https://x.com/annikadevils/status/1829580551205863565?s=46&t=cFAQIuWEg12FaJRo2itehw

The alleged drunk driver Sean Higgins is upset he is being held in jail till next week.
Everything I think to type after reading this will get my accounted suspended. Quoted from the NY Post.
 

Hopefully the judge holds that attitude against him at his sentencing hearing.  He clearly needs some time for reflection.

[SHAQATTACK]

I?ve been hit couple times ,riding my bike daily been lucky so far ?.close calls . One 30 year old woman , ran a giant like triple sized stop sign and though the bike path to nail me. I got up shook it off ,  asked he did she not see that 5 ft stop sign? She saw I was ok , no blood no foul , told me to watch where I was going, flipped me off and peeled away in her Honda.

People do NOT stop at stop signs, if they did actually come to complete stop and look before pulling out , many many people walking , cycling and motor bikes would be alive.

Old dude in a BMW , never saw me , ignored the the stop sign. ?..brain dead 80 yr old ?.he only stopped after his wife screamed .

People only look for cars when they are at an intersection, never consider anything else . But , if they would just obey the laws it would help.

IMO laws for running stop sign and red lights are not strictly enforced enough, and penalties for mowing people down should be much harsher .

This was tragic, and I see how it happens every day , old people on meds , and drivers who have lost their licenses for various drugs are still driving?..no insurance or nothing.

At some point the police have to take back control of public roads , highways etc.  ?it?s a free for all. Everyman for himself with little oversight.

[Goldstar88]

I?ve been hit couple times ,riding my bike daily been lucky so far ?.close calls . One 30 year old woman , ran a giant like triple sized stop sign and though the bike path to nail me. I got up shook it off ,  asked he did she not see that 5 ft stop sign? She saw I was ok , no blood no foul , told me to watch where I was going, flipped me off and peeled away in her Honda.

People do NOT stop at stop signs, if they did actually come to complete stop and look before pulling out , many many people walking , cycling and motor bikes would be alive.

Old dude in a BMW , never saw me , ignored the the stop sign. ?..brain dead 80 yr old ?.he only stopped after his wife screamed .

People only look for cars when they are at an intersection, never consider anything else . But , if they would just obey the laws it would help.

IMO laws for running stop sign and red lights are not strictly enforced enough, and penalties for mowing people down should be much harsher .

This was tragic, and I see how it happens every day , old people on meds , and drivers who have lost their licenses for various drugs are still driving?..no insurance or nothing.

At some point the police have to take back control of public roads , highways etc.  ?it?s a free for all. Everyman for himself with little oversight.

Not to mention the fact that many people are on their phones texting while they drive. This is why I have a mountain bike and not a road bike. It?s scary enough just driving in the car these days.

[Redz]

I?ve been hit couple times ,riding my bike daily been lucky so far ?.close calls . One 30 year old woman , ran a giant like triple sized stop sign and though the bike path to nail me. I got up shook it off ,  asked he did she not see that 5 ft stop sign? She saw I was ok , no blood no foul , told me to watch where I was going, flipped me off and peeled away in her Honda.

People do NOT stop at stop signs, if they did actually come to complete stop and look before pulling out , many many people walking , cycling and motor bikes would be alive.

Old dude in a BMW , never saw me , ignored the the stop sign. ?..brain dead 80 yr old ?.he only stopped after his wife screamed .

People only look for cars when they are at an intersection, never consider anything else . But , if they would just obey the laws it would help.

IMO laws for running stop sign and red lights are not strictly enforced enough, and penalties for mowing people down should be much harsher .

This was tragic, and I see how it happens every day , old people on meds , and drivers who have lost their licenses for various drugs are still driving?..no insurance or nothing.

At some point the police have to take back control of public roads , highways etc.  ?it?s a free for all. Everyman for himself with little oversight.

Not to mention the fact that many people are on their phones texting while they drive. This is why I have a mountain bike and not a road bike. It?s scary enough just driving in the car these days.

The intersection a couple hundred yards from my house is famous for being the 2nd most dangerous on Caoe Cod.  There are stop signs with little flashing lights on them and several warnings leading up to them.  People don?t stop.  The road they?re crossing is a 45 MPH speed limit that people go over 50 MOH.  Again, warning in both directions approaching the intersection and the speed limit drops to 30.  Neither have any effect.  It?s scary as hell and my family has to use it every day.  I am very familiar with ith the sound of a car being crushed. 

I would not ride a bike on the road any more.  The amount of people swerving around the road as they take a peak at their phones is just crazy.  There is a margin for error unless you get fully lost in your phone.  But that margin can klll a biker on a narrow road.

Anyhow?the  whole story is just awful.  Passing someone on the insides just nuts.  Even for a drunk driver.