Another summer tragedy has struck the Columbus Blue Jackets.
According to a statement released by the team, Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, died Thursday night. Reports are that they were killed while biking Thursday night in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, close to their hometown of Salem in Salem County, New Jersey.
Gaudreau, 31, was the Blue Jackets’ top forward after signing in July 2022 as an unrestricted free agent from the Calgary Flames. According to a public post on a popular wedding site, he and Matthew Gaudreau were scheduled to be groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding Friday in Philadelphia. Gaudreau’s wife, Meredith, is listed as maid-of-honor.
I was browsing news headlines. Me: “Why is Johnny Gaudreau trending…”
Reading out loud to my wife, I first read it as “Johnny Gaudreau’s brother died”. Reading it a second time, the utter dread sunk in.
What a way to find out.
Finding out that it was the day before their sister’s wedding…a tremendous tragedy.
He’ll be missed.