Ice hockey-NHL's Gaudreau of the Blue Jackets dies in bike accident

Reuters · 08/30 12:49
Ice hockey-NHL's Gaudreau of the Blue Jackets dies in bike accident

- NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau of the Columbus Blue Jackets has been killed in a bike accident along with his brother, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced on Friday.

"The National Hockey League family is shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew," League Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.

"Gaudreau often told the story of how his father taught him to skate as a child in his home state of New Jersey and he carried that same youthful passion throughout his 11 NHL seasons," Bettman said.

"A skilled playmaker, Gaudreau participated in the NHL All-Star Game seven times where he was always a fan favorite."

According to local media, the player, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, were killed in a bike accident close to their hometown in Salem County, New Jersey, late on Thursday.


(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; editing by Jason Neely)

((TommyAlexander.Lund@thomsonreuters.com;))