johnny gaudreau accident: Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau dead in New Jersey bike accident
Another summer tragedy has befallen the Blue Jackets.
Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew died Thursday night, according to a statement released by the team. There are reports that he was killed Thursday night while riding his bike in Oldman’s Township, New Jersey, near his hometown of Salem County, New Jersey.
Gaudreau, 31, was the Blue Jackets’ frontrunner after signing as an unrestricted free agent from the Calgary Flames in July 2022. According to a post on a popular wedding site, Gaudreau and his brother were to be groomsmen in his sister’s wedding in Philadelphia on Friday. Gaudreau had two young children, a daughter, Noa, and son, Johnny, with his wife Meredith, both born in Columbus.
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The team’s statement reads in full
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but even more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. Heartfelt condolences to his wife, Meredith. Children, Noah and Johnny, his parents, their family and friends played with great joy on the sudden loss of Johnny and Matthew, which was felt by everyone who loved him for hockey. True love has played everywhere from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets.
He excited the fans in a way that only Johnny Hockey could. His impact on our organization and our sport was profound, but in comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him. Johnny embraced our community when he arrived two years ago and Columbus welcomed him with open arms. We will miss him greatly and will do everything we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy. At this time, we ask for the Gaudreau family’s prayers and respect for their privacy as they grieve.”
A Blue Jackets spokesman said the team would have no further comment until a later date. Dispatch left messages with the New Jersey State Police, who are handling inquiries. As of Friday morning, police have only confirmed to multiple news outlets in New Jersey and Philadelphia that a fatal motorcycle crash occurred around 8 p.m. Thursday in Oldmans Township that killed two adult bicyclists.
Gaudreau’s death comes three years after Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks was killed on July 4, 2021, in a fireworks incident at the home of the team’s former goalie coach Manny Legacy in Novi, Michigan.
johnny gaudreau accident: Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau dead in New Jersey bike accident
After two disappointing seasons on the ice, Gaudreau went through his offseason training this summer intent on having a rebound year. That included playing for the United States at the men’s world championships in Czechia in May. Gaudreau impressed with three goals, eight assists and 11 points in eight games to finish third on the team in scoring and fourth in the tournament.
He also led the Blue Jackets with 12-48-60 in 81 games last season, the second straight year Gaudreau led the team in points, but it was 14 points from his first season in Columbus (2022-23). There was a shortage. . It was also 55 points less than Gaudreau’s last season in Calgary, before his surprise decision to sign a seven-year, $68.25 million contract with the Blue Jackets in July 2022.
The move was criticized throughout the NHL, especially in Calgary, but Gaudreau never wavered from his primary reason behind choosing the Blue Jackets. He and Meredith wanted to raise their children in Columbus, close to their families in New Jersey. Gaudreau was also impressed with the Blue Jackets’ fans, who turned out in large numbers the past two years despite a mountain of losses.
His goal was to give them more to cheer on, and that challenge got a boost with the Blue Jackets signing center Sean Monahan, a close friend and former Flames teammate, on July 1. Heading into training camp, new coach Dan Evason appeared to fill two of his three forward spots on the top line with Gaudreau at left wing and Monahan at center. Now, a week after Patrick Lane was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, there is a huge void of proven elite wingers and a huge void in the hearts and minds of Gaudreau’s family, teammates and all who knew him. were
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