The hockey world stopped spinning for a moment. It’s one of those stories where you remember exactly where you were when the news alert hit your phone. One minute, fans were buzzing about Johnny Gaudreau’s upcoming season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the next, the community was mourning a double tragedy. It feels surreal. It feels unfair. Honestly, it’s just plain heartbreaking.
If you’re wondering exactly how did the Gaudreau brothers die, the details are as gut-wrenching as the headlines suggested. It wasn't a health complication or a freak sports accident. It was a senseless tragedy on a quiet road in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. Johnny and his younger brother, Matthew, were out for a bike ride on the night of August 29, 2024. They were in town for their sister’s wedding, which was supposed to happen the very next day. They were just being brothers, getting some air before a big family milestone. Then, everything changed in an instant.
What happened on County Route 551?
The specifics of the incident are localized to a stretch of road known as Auburn Road (County Route 551). It was around 8:00 PM. The sun was setting. The brothers were cycling north, staying close to the right side of the road. According to the New Jersey State Police, a driver in a Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling in the same direction.
The driver, later identified as 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was reportedly attempting to pass two slower-moving vehicles. He moved into the left lane to pass a sedan and an SUV. However, when the SUV in front of him pulled into the center of the road to safely maneuver around the two cyclists—Johnny and Matthew—Higgins allegedly tried to pass that SUV on the right.
That’s when the collision occurred.
Higgins struck the brothers from behind. Both Johnny and Matthew sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. It’s a sequence of events that happened in seconds but has left a permanent scar on the sport. When police arrived, they noted the smell of alcohol. According to the criminal complaint, Higgins admitted to consuming "five or six beers" prior to the accident. He failed a field sobriety test. He was subsequently charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving and consuming alcohol in a vehicle.
The devastating timing of the accident
You can't talk about this without mentioning the wedding. That’s the part that really gets people. Katie Gaudreau, their sister, was set to marry her fiancé, Devin Caherly, on Friday, August 30. Johnny and Matthew were supposed to be groomsmen. The family was all gathered in the Philadelphia area. It was meant to be a weekend of celebration, the kind of event where the "Gaudreau boys" would have been the life of the party.
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Instead of a wedding, the family faced a funeral.
The hockey community is tight-knit. It’s a small world. When news broke that "Johnny Hockey" was gone, it didn't feel like a celebrity passing; it felt like losing a neighbor. Johnny was 31. Matthew was only 29. They weren't just brothers; they were best friends. They played together at Boston College. They followed each other’s careers with a kind of loyalty you don't always see.
Who was Johnny Gaudreau beyond the stats?
Most people knew Johnny through the TV screen. He was the guy who defied the "size" logic of the NHL. Standing at 5'9" (and that’s being generous with the skates on), he wasn't supposed to dominate. But he did. He was a wizard with the puck.
- The Calgary Era: He spent nine seasons with the Flames, becoming a franchise icon. He scored 115 points in the 2021-22 season. That's elite.
- The Columbus Move: People were shocked when he signed with the Blue Jackets in 2022. He didn't chase the biggest paycheck or the brightest lights of Vegas or New York. He wanted to be closer to home. He wanted his family to be able to drive to his games.
- The International Stage: He was a staple for Team USA, representing the red, white, and blue with a level of pride that was infectious.
But talk to anyone in the locker room, and they’ll tell you about Johnny the dad. He left behind his wife, Meredith, and two very young children, Noa and Johnny Jr. At the memorial service, Meredith revealed she was pregnant with their third child. It’s those human details that make the question of how did the Gaudreau brothers die so much more painful to answer. It wasn't just a loss of talent; it was a loss of a father, a husband, and a son.
Matthew Gaudreau: The heartbeat of the family
While Johnny was in the spotlight, Matthew was equally beloved in the hockey world. He was a standout at Boston College, just like his brother. He played professionally in the AHL and ECHL before moving into coaching. He was a guy who lived for the game.
At the time of his death, Matthew’s wife, Madeline, was pregnant with their first child, a son to be named Tripp. The tragedy wiped out a generation of fathers in one night. The outpouring of support for Madeline and the unborn baby was massive. A GoFundMe organized for her raised hundreds of thousands of dollars within days. It showed that while the accident was a result of a horrific choice by one individual, the response was a result of the collective kindness of thousands.
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The legal aftermath and the "Move Over" conversation
The driver, Sean Higgins, has been through several court appearances since that night. The legal process is slow, as it usually is in high-profile vehicular homicide cases. But beyond the courtroom, this tragedy has reignited a massive conversation about road safety.
Cyclists are vulnerable. We know this. But the specific circumstances—a driver allegedly frustrated by traffic, attempting a dangerous pass on the right—highlights a type of road rage and impatience that kills people every day.
There’s also the inescapable reality of drunk driving. We live in an era of rideshares and instant connectivity. There is no excuse. The fact that two lives were extinguished because someone thought they were "fine to drive" after six beers is a pill the sports world refuses to swallow. Organizations like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) saw a surge in mentions and donations following the brothers' deaths.
How the NHL and the world remembered them
The tributes were everywhere. In Columbus, a massive candlelight vigil was held outside Nationwide Arena. In Calgary, fans turned the "Saddledome" steps into a mountain of Skittles and purple Gatorade—Johnny’s favorite snacks.
Teams across the league wore "13" and "21" patches (their respective numbers). During the Blue Jackets' home opener, they started the game with only four players on the ice. They left the left-wing position—Johnny’s spot—empty. The puck dropped, the clock ticked for 13 seconds, and both teams stood in silence. You could hear a pin drop in that arena. It wasn't just marketing; it was raw grief.
Lessons from a tragedy
We look for meaning in things like this, even when there isn't much to find. If there's any "actionable" takeaway from the way the Gaudreau brothers died, it's a reinforced vigilance.
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- Don't Drive Impaired. It’s the simplest rule that people still break. One Uber ride is cheaper than two lives and a prison sentence.
- Respect Cyclists. Road laws regarding passing distance aren't suggestions. If a car in front of you slows down or moves to the center, there is usually a reason. Don't assume they're just being "slow."
- Appreciate the Small Moments. The Gaudreau brothers were just out for a ride. They were happy. They were together. It reminds you that life is incredibly fragile.
The legacy that remains
The story of how the Gaudreau brothers died shouldn't be the only thing we remember. We should remember the "Hobey Baker" winner who played like he was seven feet tall. We should remember the coach who was excited to be a first-time dad.
The Gaudreau family showed incredible grace in the wake of this. Their parents, Guy and Jane, have spoken about the power of faith and the support of the global hockey community. They’ve focused on the joy the boys brought rather than the darkness of that New Jersey road.
If you want to honor them, maybe support a local youth hockey program or contribute to the foundations set up in their names. The Matthew Gaudreau Baby Tripp Fund is still a major focus for those looking to help Madeline.
The sport of hockey is faster and more physical than most, but it’s the quiet moments—like a bike ride between brothers—that remind us what actually matters. Johnny and Matthew were more than just jersey numbers. They were the heart of a family that deserved a wedding, not a memorial.
Moving forward, the best way to respect their memory is to drive with more care and hug your siblings a little tighter. The hockey world will eventually move on to new seasons and new stars, but the names Gaudreau will forever be synonymous with a brotherhood that was unbreakable, even by the most tragic of circumstances.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your local "Move Over" laws to ensure you are giving cyclists the required 3-to-4 feet of space when passing.
- Support the John & Matthew Gaudreau Foundation if you are looking to contribute to causes they cared about, such as youth sports access.
- Commit to using a designated driver or rideshare app every single time alcohol is involved; zero tolerance is the only way to prevent another County Route 551.
- Share the story of their lives, not just their passing, to keep the "Johnny Hockey" spirit alive in the next generation of small, skilled players.