Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew have died, the team announced Friday.
No cause of death has been released.
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more importantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their families and friends on the sudden loss of Johnny and Matt.
“Johnny played the game with a passion that was evident to everyone who saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love of hockey everywhere he played, from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets. He made fans happy in a way that only Johnny Hockey could. The impact he had on our organization and our sport was immense, but it pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him. Johnny embraced our community when he arrived two years ago, and Columbus welcomed him with open arms. We will miss him terribly and will do everything we can to support his family and each other during this tragedy.
“At this time, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau family and that their privacy be respected as they grieve.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also released a statement after the news was confirmed.
“The National Hockey League family is shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. While Johnny’s infectious spirit for the game and show-stopping skills on the ice earned him the nickname ‘Johnny Hockey,’ he was more than just a dazzling hockey player; he was a devoted father, a beloved husband, son, brother and teammate who endeared himself to all who were fortunate enough to cross his path.
“Gaudreau often told the story of how his father taught him to skate as a child in his home state of New Jersey and he carried that same youthful passion with him throughout his 11 NHL seasons. A skilled playmaker, Gaudreau made seven NHL All-Star Games, where he was always a fan favorite, especially when he showcased his talents in the various skills competitions for which he was so well-suited.
“He will be remembered fondly in Calgary, where he played his first nine seasons with the Flames from 2013-14 to 2021-22, developing into one of our league’s brightest young stars while posting the franchise’s fifth-highest point total. His loss will also be deeply felt in Columbus, the city where he chose to base his family and where he was one of the respected, veteran leaders of a club that was on a run to the playoffs. And both Johnny and Matthew will be mourned at Boston College, where they were teammates the year Johnny won the Hobey Baker Award in 2013-14, and at Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey, where they both played and where Matthew was the head hockey coach following his own five-year professional playing career.
“We send our most sincere condolences to his wife, Meredith; their children, Noa and Johnny; his parents, Guy and Jane; and sisters, Kristen and Katie. And we mourn with his teammates, members of the Blue Jackets and Flames organizations, his many friends in hockey, and the countless fans around the world for whom he created indelible memories on and off the ice.”
Gaudreau was a fourth-round pick by the Calgary Flames in 2011. He played nine years with the Flames before leaving via free agency to join the Blue Jackets in 2022. Part of his decision to sign in Columbus was to be closer to his family in southern New Jersey, where his wife Meredith was expecting the couple’s first child.
In 763 career NHL games, Gaudreau scored 243 goals and recorded 743 points. He was a seven-time All-Star, a member of the 2015 NHL All-Rookie Team, the 2017 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner, and a 2022 NHL First-Team All-Star. He represented the United States on the international stage numerous times, helping the Americans to silver at the 2010 U-18 tournament, gold at the 2013 World Junior Championship, and bronze at the 2018 World Championship.
Before beginning his NHL career, Gaudreau played for Boston College for three seasons, winning the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top male player in 2013–14.
Johnny Gaudreau’s final season with the Eagles was the same year as Matthew Gaudreau’s first at the school. Matthew himself would play four years at Boston College before transitioning to a season-long professional career. He was then hired as the head hockey coach at Gloucester Catholic High School for two seasons.
The tragedy comes three years after the Blue Jackets mourned the death of goalie Matīss Kivlenieks, who was killed on July 4, 2021, in a fireworks incident at the home of the team’s former goalie coach, Manny Legace.
