Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed on Thursday after being struck by a vehicle while riding their bicycles, New Jersey State Police reported on Friday.
Johnny Gaudreau was 31, and Matthew was 29.
The incident occurred when the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee attempted to pass an SUV on the right, which had moved over to make room for the cyclists. The driver hit the Gaudreau brothers from behind, resulting in fatal injuries. Police responded to the scene in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, at 8:19 p.m. The driver is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and has been charged with two counts of death by auto. The investigation is ongoing.
Both brothers were in New Jersey to serve as groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding, which was planned for Friday in Philadelphia.
The Columbus Blue Jackets released a statement on social media calling the Gaudreaus’ deaths an “unimaginable tragedy.” The statement praised Johnny’s infectious passion for hockey, saying, “He played the game with great joy, thrilling fans from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA and the Blue Jackets. The impact he had on our organization and sport was profound, but it pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him.”
Johnny Gaudreau played 11 seasons in the NHL with the Calgary Flames and the Blue Jackets. He joined Columbus on a seven-year contract starting in the 2022-23 season, earning All-Star honors in 2023 with 12 goals and 48 assists in 81 games.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed condolences, stating, “The NHL family is shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. While Johnny’s spirit and skills earned him the nickname ‘Johnny Hockey,’ he was much more — a devoted father, husband, son, brother, and teammate who endeared himself to everyone fortunate enough to cross his path.”
Matthew Gaudreau also played hockey at Boston College and in various minor leagues.
Johnny Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” gained recognition at Boston College, where he helped win a national title in 2012 and earned two straight Hockey East Player of the Year awards. In 2014, he won the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top men’s college player in the nation. Drafted by the Flames in 2011, he made an immediate impact in the NHL, becoming a six-time All-Star and scoring a career-high 40 goals and 115 points in the 2021-22 season.
The Calgary Flames also expressed grief, stating, “Our hearts are broken by this devastating loss. Johnny was, and always will be, a member of the Flames family and loved by all of Calgary.”
At 5’9″ and 180 pounds, Gaudreau was part of a generation that thrived in an era of speed and skill, proving size is no longer a limitation in hockey. He scored 20 or more goals in six seasons and had 642 points in 644 regular-season and playoff games.
He began his rise to NHL prominence with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2010-11, leading them to a Clark Cup championship with 36 goals and 72 points in 60 games. He represented the U.S. at the 2013 World Junior Championships, where he helped win gold, and played in five World Championships for Team USA, holding records for assists (30) and points (43) by a U.S. player.
This tragedy marks another loss for the Blue Jackets in recent years. In July 2021, goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died after being struck by a firework at a wedding in Michigan.
Day #30 of Sportsbetting
Today’s Starting Bankroll: $1,949.76
Bet Size: $19.49
I have now swept 3 of the last 4 days of best bets!
$200 ➡️ $200K Challenge Bet: William Contreras Over 2.5 HRR
- I am headed to Level 1.3 today as Contreras went 2-3 with an RBI and hit this number easily in the 4th inning on a single to left field.
CS Petrocub vs Ludogorets Razgrad Over 2.5
- Luckily Petrocub scored first in the 28′ and actually headed into halftime with a 1-0 lead. They then got a red card in the 58′ which gave us a chance for Ludogorets to score and make it interesting. They in fact did score in the 75′ which if you only need one more goal from that moment on 75′ mark is sort of the line that you need a goal scored by to give yourself ample time to find the third. Well miraculously in the 90-3′ they found the third goal for a 2-1 win and moved qualified for Europa League with a 6-1 aggregate.
Ljubljana vs Rijeka Over 2.5
- Absolutly crushed this bet. Ljubljana won 5-0 and moved onto the Europa Conference League with a 6-1 aggregate. This bet never in doubt as Ljubljana scored in the 2′, 12′ and 35′ to easily cash this.
Coastal Carolina vs Jacksonville St. Over 54.5
- Based on Coastal Carolina’s 55-27 scoreline over Jacksonville St. one would think this was not a sweaty bet. However, there were only 41 points scored through 3 quarters. Did I think at anytime less than 5 points would be scored in the final frame? No. But, still not as easy as the Ljubjana bet. In the end 31 points were scored in the 4th and I swept my best bets again!
Parlay of the Day: 2+ RBI’s
- Willy Adames: 1-4, 0 RBI’s
- Josh Jung: 2-4, 0 RBI’s
- Xander Bogaerts: DNP
Day #29 Profit/Loss: +$62.68
What I Learned:
College Football High-Scoring: It appears that the college football teams this year have prepared there offenses much more than they have prepared their defenses. Last night 16 of 21 games all went over 48 points. I think I am going to fire on some overs for the rest of Week 1 and see how that plays out.
Day #30 Best Bets Today
$200K Challenge
- Level 1.3 ($8 ➡️ $16): Alex Verdugo Over 1.5 HRR
#1) Ligue One: Lyon vs Strasbourg Over 3 (+114)
#2) Bundesliga: Union Berlin vs St. Pauli Over 2.5 (+100)
#3) NCAAF: TCU vs Stanford Over 60 (-110)
Parlay of the Day: 2+ RBI Milestone
- Triston Casas
- Gleyber Torres
- Jose Ramirez
