Donovan Mitchell reacts to tragic death of Johnny Gaudreau

Tragedy struck the sports world this week after NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed Thursday night by an alleged drunk driver.

Since the tragedy, there has been an outpouring of support for those impacted, and on Saturday, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell chimed in.

The Gaudreau brothers were riding bikes on a New Jersey roadway when they were struck from behind and killed.

The alleged drunk driver, Sean Higgins, is said to have been behind two other cars — a sedan and an SUV — which he tried to pass on the left. After he successfully passed the sedan, the SUV in front of him moved into the middle of the roadway in order to safely pass the bicyclists, who were on the right.

Higgins then tried to pass the SUV by driving to its right, which led to him striking the Gaudreau brothers. He told police that he believed the SUV was trying to prevent him from passing and admitted that his alcohol consumption played a role in his frustration and impatience.

The driver was arrested and charged with two counts of death by auto. He could face up to 10 years in prison.

The Gaudreau brothers were once teammates at Boston College, one of the top hockey schools in the country. They’ve been described as wonderful people who were very close to one another.

They were set to be groomsmen at their sister’s wedding on Friday, which was canceled. The wedding was the reason they were in the area.

Johnny Gaudreau, nicknamed “Johnny Hockey,” was an active NHL player with seven All-Star appearances to his name. He was also married with kids.

Matthew Gaudreau played for a number of minor league teams following his time at Boston College and was expecting a child with his wife this year. A fundraiser has been launched for his wife and unborn baby.

The sports world has come together in a meaningful way to support those who are hurting following the news. Hopefully, folks can take away multiple lessons from the tragedy, ranging from the dangers of drunk driving to the dangers of driving impatiently and recklessly.