Pittsburgh Penguins star Kevin Hayes has posted a touching tribute to his fallen college hockey teammate Johnny Gaudreau three years after the tragic loss of his own brother, former NHLer Jimmy Hayes.
On his Instagram story, Kevin posted a photo of Gaudreau reaching out to give Hayes’ nephew, Beau, a high five.
Beau’s father is Jimmy, who passed away in August 2021, the day after his son’s second birthday.
‘Love you John!’ Hayes said on Instagram. ‘Say hello to Beau’s Dad for me.’
Gaudreau and Hayes were teammates at Boston College, but the pair of NHL veterans never played on the same professional team.
Johnny Gaudreau is pictured here with Kevin Hayes’ nephew, Beau, in a touching tribute
Kevin Hayes has played in the NHL for a decade for the Blues, Flyers, Rangers and Jets
Hayes was traded this offseason from the St. Louis Blues to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he would have played in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division alongside Gaudreau, a Columbus Blue Jacket.
Jimmy Hayes died after a toxicology report found fentanyl and cocaine in his system, per the Boston Globe.
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, alongside his younger brother Matthew Gaudreau, another Boston College hockey alumnus, passed away Thursday night in an alleged cycling accident.
The brothers were allegedly riding their bikes near their hometown in New Jersey, the night before their sister’s wedding.
After the death of her brothers, Katie Gaudreau has canceled her wedding that was scheduled for Friday afternoon.
The fatal crash occurred just before 8:30pm in Oldmans Township, Salem County.
The two were struck and killed by another vehicle, driven by 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins of Woodstown, New Jersey, who is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Higgins has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide with no bail or bond.
Johnny Gaudreau passed away on Thursday night in a tragic cycling accident in New Jersey
Higgins is accused of being intoxicated when he collided with Gaudreau and his brother
In documents seen by DailyMail.com, Higgins admitted to cops that he drank ‘5-6 beers’ before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and crashing into the back of Johnny and Matthew on Thursday night.
The wedding ceremony between Katie and her fiancée, Kevin Joyce, was due to take place at the Parish of St Mary – St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Gloucester City starting at 1:45 p.m., per the couple’s page on The Knot.
A black tie cocktail hour and reception over six hours of Friday night was scheduled for The Lucy by Cescaphe in Philadelphia.
When the wedding will be postponed to is unknown at this time.
Officers also allege that Higgins showed signs of being drunk and admitted to drinking ‘prior to and while operating his vehicle’.
While reeking of alcohol, Higgins is said to have told them that ‘his consumption of alcoholic beverages contributed to his impatience and reckless driving.’
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk