Number 13, Columbus Blue Jackets, Johnny Gaudreau And Brother Die In Tragic Bike Accident

It's always sad to hear when a celebrity or popular sports player passes away. This morning is one of those days. The Columbus Blue Jackets released a statement confirming that their player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew both died in a tragic bike accident.

Johnny Gaudreau was originally drafted to the Calgary Flames back in 2014. He played for Boston College before being drafted. Gaudreau was then traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022.

Gaudreau was a fan favorite, not only with the teams he played for but for in the entire NHL. The Columbus Blue Jackets released a statement saying, "The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him."

According to ESPN, police say a driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee hit both Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau, while the two were riding their bicycles. An SUV was driving behind the two brothers when it started to move over to make room for the two. The Jeep Grand Cherokee then tried to pass the SUV and hit both Gaudreau brothers from behind. The two were pronounced dead on the scene.

Related: Scoring Your First Goal In The NHL Must Be A Huge Thrill

As most would assume and as expected, the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The driver of the Jeep has been detained and is facing charges of death by auto. As of now, the investigation of the accident is still on going.

Both Johnny and his brother Matthew were together because they both were set to be in their sisters wedding, which is supposed to take place today.

The hockey community has lost two great players. Matthew Gaudreau, although never played in the NHL with his brother Johnny, played professional hockey in Sweden as well as college hockey.

Johnny leaves behind his wife, and two children. Gaudreau was born in 1993 in Salem County, NJ. He was 30-years old.

I have weird hockey superstitions about where I watch the Vegas Golden Knights. Last Saturday afternoon, my wife and I were looking for a local tavern that might have an open table. We wanted to grab some dinner, drinks, and watch game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The first place we stopped at was packed. No open tables. So, we were trying to decide where to go next. She mentioned a nearby tavern, but I nixed it. Why? Well, I told her every time we go there, the Golden Knights lose.

I know, ridiculous, right? After all, how can something like where we watch the VGK on television affect the outcome of an NHL game? I guess that’s why they call it a silly superstition. There’s no common sense involved.

Hockey players are notorious for being superstitious. Many have rituals such as putting on their equipment in a certain order. I don’t know if that is just a learned routine, or if it is a superstition. But, when I play hockey, I always put on my left skate, then my right skate, then my left shin pad, then my right shin pad, and so on.

If I don’t put on my equipment in that order, I just don’t feel right during the game for some reason.

I found an article on TheHockeyWriters.com which details wacky and weird hockey player superstitions by some of the game’s greatest. Greg Boysen’s article describes  the pre-game ritual of one of the game’s great goalies. Glenn Hall used to force himself to throw up before every game. Evidently, it calmed his nerves.

Another Hall of Fame goaltender would threaten any player who touched his goalie equipment. We’re talking about threatening his own teammates! What is it about goalies? Netminder Jocelyn Thibault used to pour water over his head exactly six-and-a-half minutes before every game.

Boysen’s article on TheHockeyWriters.com has plenty more wacky and weird hockey superstitions. Scroll down to see five great ones.

"The Great One," Wayne Gretzky, would powder the blade of his hockey sticks with baby powder before each game. Some of his other superstitions include never getting his hair cut while on a road trip. In warm-ups, he would purposely miss his first shot wide to the right of the goal. Then, after warm-ups, he would always take drinks in this specific order: Diet Coke, water, Gatorade, and then he'd throw back another Diet Coke.

This four-time Stanley Cup-winning goalie used to talk to his goal posts. Yup. Apparently, Roy felt that conversing with these inanimate objects would improve his play. And, the goal posts would be more apt to be on his side. Hard to argue with a Hall of Fame goalie.

This NHL Hall of Fame forward is now the President of the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise. Back during his professional career, he always wore the shoulder pads from his junior hockey days. He also made sure he listened to at least one Madonna song before each game. I guess he had to get "Into The Groove."

Here's another hockey Hall of Fame forward who had a weird hockey superstition. Before each game, Nieuwendyk ate two pieces of toast topped with peanut butter. Not one. Not three. Two. I wonder if he ate toast topped with jelly or jam after the game.

One of the most heralded draft prospects in NHL history, "The Next One" (in reference to being the next greatest player to Wayne Gretzky), or "Sid The Kid," is no longer a kid. He's 35-years-old now. He is a gentlemanly player, but if you touch his hockey sticks after he has taped them up before a game, he's not going to be happy. In fact, he will take all of the tape off of the stick you touched, and re-tape it. He also has a superstition of NOT calling his Mom on game days.

Link Up With Us On Social Media! 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kklz963   

X: https://twitter.com/kklz963   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kklz963/   

MORTY: https://963kklz.com/shows/morty/