American hockey star Johnny Gaudreau, also known as Johnny Hockey, is trending on social media following the alleged news that he died in a car accident.

There are reports all over X (formerly Twitter) about the death of the Columbus Blue Jackets star player, along with his brother. They were hit by a car while riding their bikes near their parents’ home in New Jersey.

This has sent social media into a frenzy as netizens rush to find out the truth. As it stands, the news remains a rumor on social media as there is no official source that has confirmed it. Although in the same vein, there is also no official source that has denied it, including Gaudreau himself or his family.

Johnny Gaudreau Car Accident

News of Johnny Gaudreau’s alleged death began to spread after a news item from 6abc that two cyclists had been killed by a driver in a suspected drunk driving accident.

The incident is believed to have occurred around 8:30 p.m. Thursday evening on Pennsville Auburn Road, near Stumpy Lane in Oldmans Township in Salem County, New Jersey.

While currently playing for the Blue Jackets in Ohio, Gaudreau is a Salem Born in New Jersey.

Journalist and Sports Thinkers CEO Steve Franklin, who claims in his bio on X that he “says what the common man is afraid to say,” reported that the news was confirmed to him by a brother who is a police officer.

“My brother (Salem County, NJ police officer) has confirmed that NHL player Johnny Gaudreau has passed away in a car accident. Rest in peace Johnny Gaudreau. Columbus Blue Jackets legend,” he wrote.

It’s important to note that Franklin has misrepresented some embarrassing stories in the past, including a similar rumor about Amari Cooper that turned out to be false.

Regardless of the sketchy nature of the initial information, the news sparked heated discussions on X and other social media platforms, with people rushing to find out the truth.

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While there are no official sources confirming the news, many people in the hockey community are confirming the news. Starting with former NHL referee Tim Peel, who wrote on X after someone asked him to remove his post about the reported death: “Morgan, unfortunately this is true. Jonny and his brother were killed tonight by a drunk driver,”

After further investigation, Peel indicated he did not want to reveal his sources, but he is certain that several reporters from the Calgary Flames (Johnny’s former team) confirmed the news to him.

Also circulating on social media is a piece of paper from the notebook of a supposed police detective. It seems that the names of Johnny and his brother and their address are in the report. However, this, like all other cases, is not yet verified at this time.

Meanwhile, a reporter said that after speaking with him, New Jersey State Police received numerous calls about the incident. However, police have yet to confirm or deny the rumor.

In fact, we should all remain in limbo until authorities confirm or deny this news. Nevertheless, the delay in any response leaves fans completely in the dark.

“I hope this is a mistake…” wrote one distraught fan.

Another said: “Pray it is not true, if it is such a tragic loss,”

Other fans promise the X accounts all the best if the information turns out to be incorrect.

Who is Johnny Gaudreau Hockey?

Johnny Gaudreau, nicknamed Johnny Hockey, is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Gaudreau was born John Michael Gaudreau on August 13, 1993, in Salem, New Jersey. He grew up in Carneys Point Township and played pee-wee hockey and little league baseball.

He began his career playing for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League during the 2010–11 season. He reached the 2011 USHL All-Star Game and was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team and All-USHL Second Team. He was also named Rookie of the Year.

His play was rewarded when the Calgary Flames selected him with the 104th pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

He played for the NCAA Division I’s Boston College Eagles from 2011 to 2014, winning the 2014 Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s most outstanding player. During his rookie NHL season, he was named to the 2014 NHL All-Rookie team, and during his first full season, he made the 2015 NHL All-Star Game.

After several years in Calgary, Gaudreau declined to re-sign with the team, saying he wanted to return home and joined the Columbus Blue Jackets as a free agent In July 2022, he signed a seven-year contract worth $68.25 million, less money than he would have earned had he stayed with the Flames.