Pittsburgh Penguins ' Kevin Hayes has paid a touching tribute to his late former college teammate Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who were tragically killed.
Hayes took to social media to share a poignant message alongside a photo of Johnny giving his nephew Beau a high five, with the caption: "Love you John! Say hello to Beau's Dad for me". Beau's father is ex- NHL player Jimmy Hayes, who passed away on his son's second birthday in August 2021. Jimmy and Johnny were teammates at Boston College and maintained a close bond despite never playing professionally together.
The tragedy deepens as it was revealed that the Gaudreau brothers were cycling in their New Jersey hometown on the eve of their sister Katie's wedding when the fatal accident occurred. Following the devastating loss, Katie reportedly called off her wedding which was set for Friday afternoon.
The Columbus Blue Jackets released a heart-wrenching statement following the passing of their cherished player, saying: "The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend."
"We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their family and friends on the sudden loss of Johnny and Matthew. Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets.
They continued: "He thrilled fans in a way only Johnny Hockey could. The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but 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 do everything that we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy. At this time, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau family and that their privacy be respected as they grieve."
Sean M. Higgins, the driver of the SUV that struck and killed the Gaudreau brothers, faces two counts of vehicular homicide. He allegedly admitted to consuming '5-6 beers' before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep Grande Cherokee. Reports suggest he smelt of alcohol, which "contributed to his impatience and reckless driving".
Hayes was traded in the offseason from the St. Louis Blues to the Pittsburgh Penguins where he would have played in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division alongside Gaudreau and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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