Sports community mourns NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother

(CNN) — Beloved NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were honored across the sports world on Friday following their tragic deaths late Thursday night in New Jersey.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were fatally struck by a suspected drunk driver while riding bicycles on a New Jersey street, officials said, just hours before they were scheduled to serve as best men at their sister's wedding in Philadelphia.

In her first two Instagram posts since her husband's death, Johnny Gaudreau's widow Meredith Gaudreau posted pictures of her family and wrote in the caption to her husband: “We will make you proud.”

“Thank you for the best years of my life. Even though I lost you, I'm still the luckiest girl in the world because I was yours. I love you so much. You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love everything about you. You are mine forever and I can't wait to be with you again. I love you so much forever and ever,” reads the first post from Saturday morning.

“The absolute best dad in the world. So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with. John never missed a single appointment,” Gaudreau wrote in a second post moments later. “He was the best at putting the baby to bed and the apple of Noa's eye. I love how much she looks like him. We will make you proud. We love you so, so, so much daddy.”

Gaudreau's team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, called the deaths an “unimaginable tragedy” in a social media post on Friday.

In Major League Baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies held an emotional moment of silence before their game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. The team showed a photo of the brothers from their days at Boston College on the video board while the announcer read a statement before calling for the moment of silence.

The Phillies players stood along the first base foul line in their emotional tribute.

Meanwhile, the New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds also held a moment of silence before their games on Friday.

“We are heartbroken for our friends at the Blue Jackets over the tragic passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew,” the Cincinnati Reds said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Gaudreau family, their friends, the NHL and the entire Columbus Blue Jackets organization.”

Throughout Friday, fans paid their respects to the late Blue Jackets star and his brother with an impromptu memorial, leaving flowers, hockey sticks and other memorabilia outside the team's Nationwide Arena in Ohio.

Tributes for the brothers will continue through Saturday, as Ohio State football announced the team will observe a moment of silence before kickoff of its season opener against Akron.

Members of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew North Corner fan group plan to honor the Blue Jackets striker with a moment of silence during the 13th minute of their game against the New York City Football Club on Saturday at Lower.com Field, displaying Gaudreau's jersey number.

Charges against alleged drunk driver

According to the New Jersey State Police, the brothers were riding bicycles on a country road in Oldmans Township – a community in southern New Jersey near the Delaware River – at around 8:19 p.m. on Thursday when they were struck by a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was attempting to overtake two slower-moving vehicles.

The Jeep driver, whom police identified as 43-year-old Sean Higgins, is charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter, according to the indictment.

“Further investigation revealed that Higgins was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol,” State Police Sergeant Jeffrey Lebron said in a press release.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed Friday in Salem County Superior Court, Higgins said he had consumed approximately five to six beers before the accident.

“Mr. Higgins specifically stated that his alcohol consumption contributed to his impatience and reckless driving that led to the car accident,” the affidavit states.

Higgins made his first court appearance Friday afternoon but did not admit to a guilty plea, according to Crystal Harris, chief of the criminal division of the Salem County Court. He is being held without bail at the Salem County Correctional Facility pending a Sept. 5 hearing on the motion to detain, Harris said.

During Higgins' court appearance, Judge Michael J. Silvanio said the charges against him carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison. Higgins is represented by a public defender, but said at the hearing that he would hire his own attorney to represent him in the future.

“Johnny Hockey” was known for his enthusiasm on the ice and his friendliness off the ice

The deaths of “Johnny Hockey,” known for his enthusiasm on the ice and his kindness off it, and his brother Matthew sparked sadness throughout the sporting world.

Johnny Gaudreau was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft out of Boston College. He signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets ahead of the 2022-2023 season and scored 12 goals and 48 assists last season. In 11 seasons in the league, Gaudreau scored 243 career goals and 743 points and appeared in seven All-Star games.

Following news of his death, hockey fans across the United States erected memorials in his honor. On Friday, fans in Columbus, Ohio, set up a makeshift memorial. In Canada, fans laid flowers on the steps of the Scotiabank Saddledome to remember Johnny Gaudreau, who played there for the Calgary Flames.

“Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but most of all, he was a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend,” the Blue Jackets said in the statement. “Johnny played the game with great joy that was felt by everyone who saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love of hockey no matter where he played, from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets. He thrilled fans in a way that only Johnny Hockey could.”

“He had a profound impact on our organization and our sport, but pales in comparison to the indelible impression he left on all who knew him,” the statement said.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement: “While Johnny's infectious spirit and breathtaking skills on the ice earned him the nickname 'Johnny Hockey,' he was more than just a dazzling hockey player; he was a loving father and beloved husband, son, brother and teammate who endeared himself to everyone who was fortunate enough to cross his path.”

Long-time NHL manager Brian Burke noted in a Statement on X that Gaudreau “brought a kindness that radiated through the locker room every day” and that “there were few players in the history of hockey who matched his passion and love for the game.”

“Johnny was always the first to raise his hand to give back to his community,” Burke said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also paid tribute to the NHL star.

“Johnny Gaudreau may have been from the States, but hockey fans in Calgary and across Canada will remember him as one of our own,” Trudeau said in a post on X.

Matthew Gaudreau returned to the brothers' alma mater in New Jersey, Gloucester Catholic High School, in 2022 to serve as ice hockey coach, a position he held until this summer.

“Johnny and Matt were incredible hockey players and students, but they were even more amazing as people,” said Principal Thomas Iacovene Jr. in a statement released by the school on Friday.

Boston College hockey head coach Greg Brown and former head coach Jerry York spoke at a press conference Friday about the influence the brothers had on and off the ice.

York recalled that the bond between the two brothers was particularly strong and thanked Matthew for pushing Johnny to become an NHL star.

“They brought a lot of joy to the rink. They were happy to be there, really happy to be there, and had big smiles on their faces the whole time,” Brown said of his time coaching the Friars.