Hockey star killed while riding his bike the day before his sister's wedding
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- The NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother were killed the night before their sister's wedding.
- They were biking in Carneys Point, New Jersey, when a man suspected of drunken driving hit them.
- Gaudreau, a Columbus Blue Jackets player, was one of the team's top veteran scorers.
The NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother were hit by a car and killed just a day before their sister's wedding.
Gaudreau, a 31-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets player, was riding his bike with his 29-year-old brother, Matthew, in Carneys Point, New Jersey, on Thursday when a driver struck and killed them both, The Associated Press reported.
The brothers, who grew up in the area, were there for their sister Katie's wedding, which was scheduled for Friday, the outlet said. A wedding website said that the brothers were set to be groomsmen in the wedding, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Police suspect that the driver was drunk when he hit them, and he's been charged with two counts of death by auto, the AP reported.
The NHL's commissioner, Gary Bettman, wrote in a statement on Friday that the league was "shocked and saddened by the tragic passing" of Gaudreau and his brother.
"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," Bettman wrote.
Gaudreau, known for his speed and skill despite his relatively small size, played 11 seasons with the NHL and joined the Blue Jackets two years ago, moving from Canada and closer to his family.
Bettman described him as one of the "League's brightest young stars" during his long tenure with the Calgary Flames.
"Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice," the Blue Jackets said in a statement on X. "He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played."
Gaudreau is survived by his wife, Meredith, and two young children, Noa and Johnny.
Matthew, his brother, also played professional hockey for five seasons before settling down as coach at the New Jersey high school where he and his brother had played, Bettman said in his statement.