Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed Thursday when they were struck by a vehicle while riding as “bicycles,” New Jersey State Police said in a news release Friday.

Johnny Gaudreau was 31 and Matthew 29.

According to police, the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee struck the Gaudreaus from behind while attempting to pass an SUV on the right that had moved to make way for the two bicyclists. Police, who responded to the scene in Oldmans Township, New Jersey at 8:19 p.m., reported that both Gaudreaus suffered fatal injuries.

The driver is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, police said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

The Blue Jackets called the Gaudreaus’ deaths an “unimaginable tragedy” in a statement on social media.

“Johnny played the game with a passion that was evident to all who saw him on the ice,” the Blue Jackets wrote. “He brought a genuine love of hockey to everywhere he played, from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets. He delighted fans in a way that only Johnny Hockey could. The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but it pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on all who knew him.”

Statement from Columbus Blue Jackets regarding the passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. photo.twitter.com/V2aFykgKIs

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 30, 2024

Gaudreau played in 11 NHL seasons for the Flames and Blue Jackets. He joined Columbus on a seven-year contract that begins with the 2022-23 season. He was an All-Star in 2023 and had 12 goals and 48 assists in 81 games last season.

“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. “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 devoted father and beloved husband, son, brother and teammate who endeared himself to all who were fortunate enough to cross his path.”

Matthew Gaudreau also played for Boston College and several minor league teams.

Johnny Gaudreau was drafted in the fourth round by the Flames in 2011 and attended Boston College, where he earned the nickname “Johnny Hockey” after helping the Eagles win a national title in 2012, winning the Hockey East Player of the Year award twice in a row and winning the Hobey Baker Award in 2014, which is given to the nation’s top male college player.

He signed with the Flames and scored a goal in his first and only game of the 2013–14 season. A year later, Gaudreau became one of the league’s brightest rookies, scoring 24 goals and 64 points to help the Flames reach the playoffs. He was a six-time All-Star with the Flames and scored a career-high 40 goals and 115 points in 2021–22.

Gaudreau emerged as an NHL talent during his lone season with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2010–11. Led by future Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, the Fighting Saints won the USHL title, the Clark Cup, as the diminutive but agile Gaudreau scored 36 goals and 72 points in 60 games before adding five goals and 11 points in 11 playoff games.

He represented the U.S. at the 2013 U-20 World Junior Championships, where he helped the nation win gold by scoring seven goals and nine points in seven games. He would play for Team USA at five world championships, including the 2024 team that finished fifth, with Gaudreau scoring three goals and 11 points in eight games.

ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark contributed to this report.