Johnny Gaudreau’s death leaves Rocket coach ‘speechless and in shock’
Pascal Vincent coached Gaudreau for two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets before being hired by Canadiens to coach AHL team in Laval.
The hockey world woke up Friday morning to the sad and shocking news that Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were struck and killed Thursday night while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey.
According to court documents acquired by TMZ Sports, 43-year-old Sean Higgins admitted to police officers that he slammed his Jeep Cherokee into the backs of the Gaudreau brothers on a rural road in Salem County, N.J., around 8 p.m. TMZ Sports reported that Higgins told police officers that he drank “5-6 beers” before getting behind the wheel.
TMZ Sports also reported that Higgins told the police officers he was attempting to get around an SUV on the left, but when he thought the vehicle made a move to block him from passing he tried to get by it on its right and then collided with the brothers on their bikes. Higgins has been arrested and is facing two charges of death by auto.
Johnny Gaudreau was 31 and his brother was 29.
Gaudreau would have been heading into his third season with the Blue Jackets after being traded from the Calgary Flames. He had 12-48-60 totals in 81 games last season with Pascal Vincent as his head coach in Columbus. Vincent was an assistant coach with the Blue Jackets during Gaudreau’s first season in Columbus.
The Blue Jackets fired Vincent after last season and he was then hired by the Canadiens last month to become head coach of the Laval Rocket, their AHL farm club.
“I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau,” Vincent said in a statement released by the Canadiens and the Rocket. “This tragedy has left me speechless and in shock.
“Over the years, I had the privilege of getting to know the real Johnny Gaudreau — the person behind the hockey player,” Vincent added. “He was a humble and unassuming young man with extraordinary talent, who never sought to be in the spotlight. Instead, he enjoyed life’s simple pleasures and possessed a quiet strength of character. His passion for the game and exceptional hockey sense allowed him to achieve greatness, yet he remained grounded and true to himself.”
Gaudreau leaves behind his wife, Meredith, and two young children — a daughter, Noa, and son, Johnny — who both were born in Columbus. Matthew Gaudreau is survived by his wife, Madeline. Both brothers are survived by their parents, Jane and Gus Gaudreau, and their sisters Kristen and Katie.
