Driver Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal Crash That Killed NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau and Brother

Sean M. Higgins, the driver accused of killing NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in a fatal crash last year, pleaded not guilty to all charges during an arraignment hearing Tuesday in Salem County, New Jersey. Higgins, 44, faces charges including two counts of aggravated manslaughter, two counts of vehicular homicide, evidence tampering, and leaving the scene of an accident.

The crash occurred on August 29, 2024, when Higgins, allegedly impaired by alcohol, struck the Gaudreau brothers as they cycled on a rural New Jersey road. Police reported Higgins had a blood-alcohol level of .087, above the state’s legal limit of .08. Witnesses stated Higgins was driving aggressively before veering into the cyclists.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, known as “Johnny Hockey,” was a prominent NHL player who spent eight seasons with the Calgary Flames and was set to begin his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. His brother Matthew, 29, was also a former hockey player. The brothers were preparing to serve as groomsmen at their sister’s wedding the following day.

During the hearing, prosecutors offered Higgins a 35-year prison sentence in exchange for a guilty plea, which he declined. His defense attorney, Matthew Portella, described Higgins as a loving father who made a “horrible decision” that night. The case is set to proceed to trial, with the next court date scheduled for February 4.

The tragedy has left the Gaudreau family and the hockey community in mourning. Johnny Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, is expecting their third child, while Matthew’s wife recently welcomed a baby boy named Tripp Matthew.