Meredith Gaudreau shared a slideshow of photos featuring her, her husband Johnny, and their children, reflecting on the cherished moments they spent together as a family.
The NHL star Johnny Gaudreau’s wife, Meredith, posted a heartfelt tribute to her late husband, who tragically lost his life in a suspected drunk driving incident.
In an Instagram post, Meredith expressed her deep love for Johnny, describing him as perfect and making life feel almost too good to be true. She cherished every aspect of him, writing, “Thank you for the best years of my life. Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours. I love you so so much.”Meredith’s post conveyed her enduring love, stating that Johnny would always be her forever and that she eagerly anticipated the day they would be together again. The photos in her slideshow captured a couple deeply in love, often seen being playful and carefree. Meredith and Johnny were pictured cuddling, hugging, enjoying rounds of golf, spending time with their kids, and relaxing with their dog. Whether with friends or alone, they always appeared happy, smiling, and laughing together. Johnny and Meredith married in 2021 and had two children, a daughter named Noa and a son named Johnny. In a separate post, Meredith celebrated Johnny as a loving father, describing him as “The absolute best dad in the world. So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with. John never missed a single appointment.”
She mentioned how Johnny had a special talent for putting their baby to sleep and was the apple of Noa’s eye, noting how much their daughter resembled him. Meredith promised to make Johnny proud, expressing their deep love for him. The heartfelt photos shared in her posts included moments of Johnny as a devoted father, tenderly holding their infant son, taking walks with Noa, and enjoying playful moments at the beach. One particularly sweet picture showed Johnny in full sports gear, ready for a game, with an adoring Noa watching him intently. Johnny’s deep bond with his children was evident in every image, showcasing his affection and connection with his family. Johnny and his brother Matty tragically lost their lives in the suspected drunk driving incident. Meredith paid tribute to the close bond between the two brothers, describing them as inseparable and always mentioned together, side by side, even in large gatherings.
She emphasized that despite being John’s younger brother, Johnny looked up to Matty and relied on him for everything. Matty was always there for him. Meredith described Johnny and Matty as absolute best friends who were each other’s biggest supporters, despite their contrasting personalities. She noted that their magnetic presence made everyone want to be around them, including herself.
Meredith expressed her gratitude for Matty’s love for their children and his role as an amazing uncle and godfather. She promised to honor their memory by being a supportive aunt to Tripp, Matty’s unborn child, and vowed to care for Matty’s wife, Madeline, and Tripp with all her love. The heartfelt images she shared included Matty’s integral role in Noa’s baptism and the brothers proudly standing as groomsmen at their wedding.
Matty and Johnny’s families are devastated by the loss of the two men, who were husbands, fathers, sons, nephews, cousins, brothers, brothers-in-law, and beloved humans to them. They acknowledged the messages of love and support they have received from friends, fans, and teammates and expressed their appreciation for the continued prayers and thoughts.
The families asked for continued respect and privacy during this difficult period of grief, finding solace in supporting one another and holding onto their shared memories. As previously reported, details of the tragic news of Johnny and Matty’s death were shared online. The brothers were tragically killed after being struck by a passing car in Oldmans Township around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, August 29, 2024. According to authorities, the brothers were riding bikes on a rural road in New Jersey when the accident occurred. Johnny’s hockey team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, posted a statement on X expressing their devastation and shock at the news. The team’s statement highlighted Johnny’s incredible talent as a player and the profound impact he had on the organization and the sport. They emphasized that Johnny’s legacy extended beyond the ice, as he was a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.
The Columbus Blue Jackets mentioned how much Johnny would be missed by the team and their community, ending their message by asking the public to pray for the Gaudreau family as they deal with this unimaginable loss. The team also requested that the family’s privacy be respected during this time. Similarly, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman shared a message about the tragedy, spotlighting Johnny’s incredible legacy as one of the League’s brightest young stars during his impressive 11 seasons in the NHL. Bettman extended heartfelt condolences to Johnny’s wife Meredith, their children Noa and Johnny, his parents Guy and Jane, and his sisters Kristen and Katie.
The devastating news of Johnny and Matty’s passing initially emerged through reports that the accident had taken place, though the victims had not yet been identified as the Gaudreau brothers.A report from 6abc Action News revealed that the New Jersey State Police disclosed that the driver involved in the accident had stayed at the scene and was believed to be under the influence.
X was flooded with announcements about the accident, including messages from individuals like Elaine Shircliff and Steve Franklin, who shared updates and confirmed that Johnny and Matty were the victims.Retired NHL referee Tim Peel also took to X, asking for prayers for the Gaudreau family and hoping the reports were not true.