'The world just lost one of the best'

NHLer, brother killed by suspected drunk driver while cycling on eve of sister's wedding

- STEPHEN WHYNO

Johnny Gaudreau scored 642 points in 644 regular-season and playoff games over nine seasons with the Calgary Flames and two with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus Blue Jackets player Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother were killed Thursday night when they were hit by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home State of New Jersey, police said.

Gaudreau, 31, and brother, Matthew, 29, are Carneys Point, N.J., natives and were in the area for their sister Katie’s wedding scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia, at which they were to be groomsmen.

New Jersey State Police said the Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road when a man driving an SUV in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind about 8 p.m., less than a half-hour after sunset. They were pronounced dead on the scene.

Police said the driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and 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 said, though his blood-alcohol level was not immediately available.

Johnny Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” played 11 professional seasons in the league and was set to enter his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played his first eight with the Calgary Flames, a tenure that included becoming one of the sport’s top players and a fan favourite across North America.