At this point you must have already heard the news. NHL veteran Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matt who played in the AHL were killed last night in a road accident. The brothers were out cycling soon after sunset when an SUV tried going around them to their left, and a Jeep then tried to overtake that SUV on the right, not seeing the duo on their bikes and hitting them.
The New Jersey natives were back home outside Philadelphia for their sister’s wedding, which social media posts seem to indicate was scheduled for this weekend.
Gaudreau was a likeable player whose energy and love for the game earned him the nickname ‘Johnny Hockey’. He as an alumni of Boston College and was drafted 104th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, going on to play nine seasons for the Calgary Flames. He switched to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022-23 on a seven-year deal.
His story is heartwarming and now crushing in equal measure. growing up learning to skate by tracking a trail of Skittles candy on the ice inside Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, New Jersey, the rink where his father, Guy, was serving as hockey director.
Gaudreau’s past is littered with success, a gold medal with the United States at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Tournament and then winning the Hobey Baker Award in 2014 as the NCAA’s best player. In 2014-15 he scored 24 goals and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL’s top rookie, leading all rookies in assists with 40, tied for the rookie lead in points with 64 and had 14 multiple-point games. He also helped Calgary to its first playoff appearance in six seasons and led the Flames with nine points in 11 games.
In 2016-17, he won the Lady Byng Trophy for skill, sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct, then set NHL career highs in assists (60) and points (84) in 2017-18. Gaudreau scored 100 points in a season for the first time in his NHL career in the 2021-22 season. He played in the All-Star Game seven times, and was in the NHL First All-Star Team in 2022.
Gaudreau is survived by his wife, Meredith, and two children under the age of 2: a daughter, Noa, and a son, Johnny. The brothers are also survived by their parents, Guy and Jane, and two sisters, Katie and Kristen Gaudreau.
From the Die By The Blade family, our sincerest condolences to the Gaudreau family as we all mourn a great loss to the world of hockey.