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Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew have been killed in a cycling collision according to the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.
According to reports, the collision happened around 8:30 p.m. EDT on Pennsville Auburn Road near Stumpy Lane in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.
The Gaudreaus are from nearby Salem County, New Jersey, and were home for their sister's wedding which was scheduled for Friday, The Colombus Dispatch reports.
"The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy," the team said in a statement posted to social media accounts. "Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."
Columbus Blue Jackets statement on the passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew. pic.twitter.com/V2aFykgKIs
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 30, 2024
Gaudreau, 31, started his NHL career with the Calgary Flames where he played for eight seasons. He signed a seven-year contract as a free agent with the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2022.
Gaudreau has two young children, a daughter, Noa, and a son, Johnny, with his wife Meredith.
"Johnny played the game with great joy, which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice," the team's statement says. "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."
The team ended the statement saying, "We will miss him terribly and do everything that we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy. At this time, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau family and that their privacy be respected as they grieve."