DWI suspect accused of killing Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau has different look in second NJ court appearance

Sean Higgins, who allegedly mowed down NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother on a rural New Jersey roadway last week, was ordered held in jail for at least another week as he debuted a new look in court Thursday.

Higgins appeared without the suicide vest he was wearing during his initial virtual appearance Aug. 30 and now wears a bushy goatee.

After only a few seconds, the judge postponed the hearing to determine Higgins’ pretrial conditions until Sept. 13, with Higgins remanded into custody, TMZ reports.

Higgins faces two charges of death by automobile for running over the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets star and his brother, Matthew, as the pair rode bikes in Salem County, NJ on Aug. 29. 

As they were biking on County Route 551 in their hometown of Oldmans Township around 8 p.m., Higgins struck the men from behind in his black Jeep Grand Cherokee, NJ State Police said.

The trooper who responded to the crash noted the smell of alcohol on Higgins’ breath. He later failed a field sobriety test and admitted he had “five to six” drinks before the fatal crash.

Johnny was 31 and Matthew 29. They were killed on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding, where both were to stand as groomsmen.

The NHL winger leaves behind his wife, Meredith, and two children Noa, 1, and Johnny, 6 months. 

“Thank you for the best years of my life,” Meredith Gaudreau wrote on Instagram alongside a carousel of photos of her and Gaudreau over the years.

“Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours. I love you so so much,” the grieving wife added.

Thousands of fans and mourners descended on Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary to pay their respects to the brothers, laying bouquets and displaying phone app candles in their honor.

Gaudreau was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2014, and was later a finalist for the Calder Trophy.

He stunned the hockey community when, in 2022, he left Calgary and turned down competitive offers from the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders in favor of a seven-year, $68.25 million contract with the Blue Jackets.

He appeared in the All-Star game seven times over the course of his career.

Both teams memorialized the fallen star in social media posts following the tragic news.

“Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice,” the Blue Jackets said Friday.

“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 comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him.”

The Calgary Flames also paid tribute to their former player.

“He came to Calgary as a young man and grew up here, not only as a superstar on the ice, but also a beloved member of our community,” they said in a statement.