SADNESS @ COMMONWEALTH AND COLUMBUS, OHIO: It seems that every Labor Day there’s unthinkable news stemming from an automobile accident claiming the life of our youngsters. More often than not, the accident involves a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs. … This past Thursday, terrible news hit the Columbia Blue Jackets, the NHL and our local Boston College Eagles ice hockey program quite hard and fully unexpected as NHL standout Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, both New Jersey natives who grew up to play hockey at Boston College, died when they were struck by a vehicle driven by an alleged drunk driver while riding bicycles, according to New Jersey State Police. …
“The National Hockey League family is shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Friday morning, a communique to break the news to most. “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 doting father and beloved husband, son, brother and teammate who endeared himself to every person fortunate enough to have crossed his path,” said the NHL statement. … According to police and media accounts, the two brothers were riding bicycles on County Route 551 — a two-lane highway in a rural area — in Oldmans Township (NJ) around 8:19 p.m. when they were fatally injured. A driver was traveling north when he shifted to the southbound lane so he could pass a car and SUV traveling ahead of him. When one driver tried to return to the northbound lane, the driver of the SUV had moved into the center of the highway to “safely pass the two pedal cyclists traveling north on the right side of the roadway,” police said. The vehicle driven by Sean Higgins, 43, then attempted to pass the SUV on the right and struck the two pedal cyclists [from behind]. As a result of the collision, the two pedal cyclists sustained fatal injuries,” said the authorities. … Higgins stayed at the scene, and after further investigation by troopers, was charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container, and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. He was jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility. … According to the criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press, Higgins told a responding officer he had five or six beers prior to the crash and admitted to consuming alcohol while driving. He failed a field sobriety test, the complaint noted. … “The Gaudreaus will forever be a part of the Boston hockey community thanks to the incredible impact they made as student athletes on and off the ice at Boston College,” the Boston Bruins said in a statement posted on X. … Johnny and Matthew were both scheduled to be groomsmen at their sister Katie‘s wedding on Friday in Philadelphia, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Unthinkable. … “Thank you for the best years of my life,” Johnny’s wife Meredith Gaudreau wrote on IG. “Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours. I love you so so much. You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much forever and ever.” … Meredith then shared a follow-up post about Johnny’s role as a father. … “The absolute best dad in the world,” she wrote. “So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with. John never missed a single appointment. Was the best at putting the baby to sleep and the apple of Noa’s eye. I love how much she looks like him. We are going to make you proud. We love you so so much daddy.”