Johnny Gaudreau’s teammate weeps as late NHL star and brother are honored after being killed by drunk driver

The Flames welcomed the Columbus Blue Jackets to Calgary, where hockey quickly became an afterthought as both teams honored Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau four months after the brothers were killed by a drunk driver.

A former teammate of Johnny’s, Columbus’ Sean Monahan, was seen crying during a ceremonial puck drop before Tuesday’s game at the Scotiabank Saddledome, where players on both sides struggled to control their emotions.

The brothers’ family were also present at the ceremony, with Johnny’s widow Meredith holding one of their two children. She revealed in September that she is pregnant with their third.

“It was really fun,” a teary Meredith told Sportsnet ahead of Tuesday’s game, which Calgary won 3-0. ‘I really wanted everyone to see the kids. Everyone has been so warm, it feels like you’ve never been away when you’re here for a few days.’

“Some of the best fans in the world are here in Calgary,” the brothers’ father, Guy, told Sportsnet before the tribute.

Tuesday marked the second time in the past two weeks that the two teams have faced off, and the first meeting in Calgary, where the forward known as “Johnny Hockey” became a beloved star and teammate for the Flames.

Many onlookers couldn’t help but notice that Sean Monahan was overcome with emotion

Johnny (right) and Matthew (left) are seen with their sister, Katie, who postponed her wedding after their deaths. Katie was also in Calgary for the ceremony on Tuesday

He played ten full seasons in the NHL and was about to begin his third with the Blue Jackets when he and Matthew were killed while biking in their native New Jersey on the eve of their sister’s wedding. The two previously played together at Boston College

The driver accused of killing Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau as they cycled on a rural New Jersey road made a brief appearance in court last month, where the judge gave prosecutors time to file charges.

The brief hearing, in which the judge gave prosecutors an additional 30 days to file formal charges in the Gaudreaus’ Aug. 29 deaths, marked the first time that the Gaudreau family and the 44-year-old defendant, Sean M. Higgins , were confronted for once. another in the courtroom. Previously, Higgins appeared at hearings via video from behind bars.

Authorities say Higgins, who is from Woodstown, in southwestern New Jersey, became impaired after drinking five or six beers the day he crashed into the brothers’ bikes, and that he has a history of anger toward the road and aggressive driving.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were murdered near their family home in South Jersey on the eve of their sister’s wedding. The family, including their father, Guy Gaudreau, declined to comment on the case Tuesday at the Salem County Courthouse.

Brothers Johnny Gaudreau (right) and Matthew Gaudreau (left) after a win over Beanpot in 2014

Johnny Gaudreau’s family gathers at center ice prior to an NHL hockey game between the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets in Calgary

Mikael Backlund hugs former teammate and now member of the Blue Jackets Sean Monahan

The Gaudreau family watches from the couch during a tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau

Sean Higgins, 43, was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving, possession of an open container and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle

Higgins told police that on the day of his arrest, he had driven around for two hours while talking to a friend on the phone after having a disturbing conversation with his mother.

A driver driving in front of Higgins told police that Higgins had been driving aggressively. When she and the vehicle in front of her slowed and turned left to avoid the cyclists, Higgins accelerated and turned right, hitting the Gaudreaus, she said.

Higgins had a blood alcohol level of 0.087, which is above the state’s legal limit of 0.08, and he failed a sobriety test, police said. He faces preliminary charges of two counts of vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving, possession of an open container and consumption of alcohol in a vehicle.

Higgins faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of any of the driving counts. The judge said that made him a flight risk and ordered him jailed until trial.

Defense attorney Matthew Portella has called Higgins “a loving father of two daughters” and a good person who “made a terrible decision that night.” Portella declined to comment after Tuesday’s hearing.