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NHL-Blue Coats' Gaudreau dead at 31 after being struck by vehicle

Columbus Blue Jackets standout Johnny Gaudreau and his younger sibling have died after being struck while riding bikes in New Jersey, the team and National Hockey League (NHL) announced on Friday.

Gaudreau, 31, spent 11 seasons as a forward in the NHL with the Calgary Flames and Blue Jackets and earned the label 'Johnny Hockey' due to his contagious spirit for the game and electrifying skill on the ice.

The National Hockey League family is surprised and saddened by the tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, League Commissioner Gary Bettman stated in a declaration.

Gaudreau typically told the story of how his daddy taught him to skate as a child in his home state of New Jersey and he brought that very same vibrant passion throughout his 11 NHL seasons.

According to New Jersey State Authorities, a driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee hit the Gaudreaus from behind on Thursday when attempting to pass an SUV on the right that had actually moved over to give way for Gaudreau and his 29-year-old brother Matthew.

Authorities said the Gaudreaus sustained deadly injuries from the collision which the chauffeur of the automobile was suspected of being under the impact of alcohol and had been charged with two counts of death by automobile.

Johnny played the video game with excellent joy which was felt by everybody that saw him on the ice, heaven Jackets stated. He brought a real love for hockey with him all over he played from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets.

He delighted fans in a manner only Johnny Hockey could. The effect he had on our company and our sport was extensive, but pales in comparison to the enduring impression he made on everybody who knew him.

Selected by Calgary with the 104th choice of the 2011 NHL Draft, Gaudreau was one of the leading novices in the 2014-15 season, scoring 24 objectives and 64 points while assisting the Flames to reach the playoffs for the very first time since 2009.

Gaudreau signed with Columbus in 2022 as an unrestricted complimentary representative and was called an All-Star in 2023 for the seventh time in his career.

In 763 regular season NHL video games, Gaudreau tape-recorded 243 objectives and 500 assists.

Our hearts are broken by this disastrous loss. Johnny was and always will belong to the Flames family and liked by all of Calgary, the Flames stated in a statement.

It was our benefit to call Johnny our teammate for nine amazing years in Calgary. He came to Calgary as a young man and matured here, not just as a superstar on the ice, but also a beloved member of our neighborhood.

(source: Reuters)