NHL News: Hockey Community mourns the loss of Johnny Gaudreau

The Washington Capitals, players, fans, and community mourn the loss of Johnny Gaudreau who passed away last night.

The Caps followed with a statement

The Washington Capitals organization stands with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the hockey community as we send our deepest condolences and mourn the tragic passing of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. Our hearts ache for the entire Gaudreau famiy and the Columbus Blue Jackets organization during this incredibly difficult time.

T.J. Oshie added the following:

Thoughts and prayers to the Gaudreau family. So incredibly sad.

The NHLPA responded with the following from Associatte Executive Director Marty Walsh:

The NHLPA joins the hockey community in mourning the tragic loss of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew. Johnny was a beloved teammate and friend in both Calgary and Columbus, and he was a joy to watch during his 10 years and 763 games in the NHL. He enjoyed a decorated college career at Boston College where he played together with his brother, Matthew, who also went on to play professional hockey in the AHL and ECHL. The players and staff of the NHLPA are devastated by these terrible losses. We express our sincerest condolences to the entire Gaudreau family - Johnny's wife, Meredith, and their children, Noa and Johnny; Matthew's wife Madeline; their parents, Guy and Jane, and their sisters, Kristen and Katie.

Here's the statement from the Columbus Blue Jackets themselves

"Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets. He thrilled fans in a way only Johnny Hockey could. The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but pales in comparaison to the indelible impress he made on everyone who knew him."

The Blue Jackets would add this, "Johnny embraced our community when he arrived two years ago, and Columbus welcomed him with open arms. We will miss him terribly and do everything that we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy. At this time, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau family and that their privacy be respected as they grieve."

You can read more about it via CBS News Philadelphia where they explain that they were killed in a crash in Salem County, New Jersey.