Brother also died

NHL forward Gaudreau dies in traffic accident

Johnny Gaudreau is dead.(Bild: Mark Humphrey)

NHL forward Johnny Gaudreau died in a traffic accident on Thursday (local time), his team the Columbus Blue Jackets confirmed.

The 31-year-old and his brother Matthew, who also died, were reportedly hit by a car while riding their bicycles near their family home in New Jersey.

Police stated that the Gaudreaus suffered fatal injuries in the collision and that the driver of the vehicle was suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol. He had been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide.

"Johnny Hockey"
Gaudreau was nicknamed "Johnny Hockey", he had started his NHL career with the Calgary Flames and played for the national team.

"The National Hockey League family is shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew," league commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "Johnny played the game with great joy, which was felt by everyone who saw him on the ice," the Blue Jackets announced. "Everywhere he played - from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets - he brought a genuine love of field hockey."

After a 2021-22 season with 115 scoring points in 82 games, the 31-year-old American signed a seven-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.