The hockey world reacts to the tragic deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau

The hockey world is mourning the tragic news that Johnny Gaudreau of the Columbus Blue Jackets and his brother Matthew were struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while riding bicycles in New Jersey.

Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, both played hockey at Gloucester Catholic High School and Boston College before turning professional. Johnny played 763 NHL games in his career with the Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames. Matthew played five seasons in the American Hockey League, the ECHL and in Sweden.

As the news spread Friday morning, Blue Jackets fans began arriving at Nationwide Arena in Columbus to pay their respects.

The Gaudreau brothers grew up in southern New Jersey, but during their time at BC they were deeply rooted in the storied history of New England hockey.

Johnny and Matthew played a total of seven years at Boston College and left an indelible mark on the Chestnut Hill community.

Spittin' Chiclets podcast co-host and NHL Network analyst Ryan Whitney played three years at Boston University before embarking on a 481-game NHL career. Johnny Gaudreau has been a guest on the podcast several times.

Mark Majewski worked for Boston College's athletic department during the Gaudreau era. Johnny Gaudreau helped the Eagles win the 2012 national championship and won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's best male player two years later.

The Flames drafted Johnny Gaudreau in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft after he led the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints to the Clark Cup title. Three years later, and two days after winning the Hobey Baker Award, he scored in his NHL debut.

Gaudreau scored 24 goals and 64 points in his first full NHL season in 2014-15. He made the NHL All-Rookie Team and finished third in the Calder Trophy voting for Rookie of the Year.

Blake Coleman, Rasmus Andersson and Eddie Lack were teammates of Johnny Gaudreau on the Flames.

Mikael Backlund is the captain of the Flames and played with Johnny Gaudreau during his time in Calgary.

After nine seasons in Calgary, Gaudreau left the club as a free agent to join the Blue Jackets in 2022. One of his reasons for signing in Columbus was that he wanted to be closer to his family in southern New Jersey, where his wife Meredith is expecting the couple's first child.

Jarmo Kekäläinen was the Blue Jackets general manager who signed Gaudreau and kept him with the franchise until February 2024.

Longtime NHL hockey executive Brian Burke served as president of hockey operations for the Flames while Johnny Gaudreau was in Calgary. Burke also held numerous positions for USA Hockey at various international tournaments in which Gaudreau participated.

Johnny Gaudreau represented the United States on the international stage several times, helping the Americans to a silver medal at the 2010 U18 tournament, gold at the 2013 World Junior Championships and bronze at the 2018 World Championships.

Before starting their careers at Boston College, the Gaudreau's played at Gloucester Catholic High School. After his playing career, Matthew Gaudreau coached the school's hockey team for two seasons.

Johnny Gaudreau scored many important goals during his hockey career, and in his final season with the Flames, he was the hero of Game 7, when his goal eliminated the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Gaudreau had his best season as an NHL player that year, scoring 40 goals and 115 points, and finished fourth in voting for the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP.