Pittsburgh Penguins star Kevin Hayes posted a touching tribute to his late college hockey teammate Johnny Gaudreau, three years after the tragic loss of his own brother, former NHL player 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.
“I love you, John!” Hayes said on Instagram. “Say hi to Beau’s dad for me.”
Gaudreau and Hayes were teammates at Boston College, but the two 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, according to Boston Globe.
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, along with his younger brother Matthew Gaudreau, another Boston College hockey alumnus, died Thursday night in a suspected bicycle accident.
The brothers were reportedly riding their bikes near their hometown in New Jersey the night before their sister’s wedding.
Following the death of her siblings, Katie Gaudreau has called off her wedding, which was scheduled for Friday afternoon.
The fatal crash occurred shortly before 8:30 p.m. in Oldmans Township, Salem County.
The two were struck and killed by another vehicle, driven by Sean M. Higgins, 43, 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 without bail or surety.
Johnny Gaudreau passed away Thursday night in a tragic cycling accident in New Jersey
Higgins is accused of being drunk when he collided with Gaudreau and his brother.
In documents seen by DailyMail.com, Higgins admitted to police he drank “5 or 6 beers” before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and rear-ending Johnny and Matthew on Thursday night.
The wedding ceremony between Katie and her fiancé, Kevin Joyce, is set to take place at St. Mary’s Parish – St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Gloucester starting at 1:45 p.m., according to the couple’s page on The Knot.
A black tie cocktail party and six-hour reception is scheduled for Friday night at The Lucy by Cescaphe in Philadelphia.
It is not known at this time when the wedding will be postponed.
Officers also allege Higgins showed signs of being intoxicated and admitted to drinking “before and while operating his vehicle.”
While reeking of alcohol, Higgins is reported to have told them that “his consumption of alcoholic beverages contributed to his impatience and reckless driving.”