Meredith Gaudreau, the wife of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, has spoken out for the first time since the tragic loss of her husband and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, who were both killed by a drunk driver just a day before their sister’s wedding.
In a heartfelt Instagram post on Saturday, Meredith expressed her profound grief and gratitude for the years she spent with Johnny. Accompanying a slideshow of cherished memories from their relationship, she began her message with, “Thank you for the best years of my life.”
Despite the unimaginable loss, Meredith reflected on the love they shared, writing, “Even though I’ve lost you, I’m still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours. I love you so, so much. You were perfect.”
She went on to reveal how deeply she cherished their relationship, admitting, “Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you.”
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Married to Johnny since 2021, Meredith concluded her post by expressing the eternal nature of their bond, saying, “You are my forever, and I can’t wait to be with you again.” She closed with a simple, yet poignant, “I love you so much, forever and ever.”
In a separate and equally emotional post, Meredith honored Johnny’s role as a father to their two young children, Noa and Jonny, both under the age of two. She described Johnny as the “absolute best dad in the world,” sharing touching photos of the former Columbus Blue Jackets player caring for and playing with their kids.
“So caring and loving,” she wrote, highlighting the special connection Johnny had with their children. She praised him as the “best partner to go through parenthood with,” recounting how he never missed an appointment and was always there to help, even with the simple tasks like putting the baby to sleep.
Meredith noted how Noa, their daughter, looked up to her father, calling him the “Apple of Noa’s eye,” and shared that the little girl bore a striking resemblance to him. She ended this post with a promise to carry on Johnny’s legacy, writing, “We are going to make you proud. We love you so, so, so much, Daddy.”
These heartbreaking tributes were shared just two days after the tragic accident in Salem County, New Jersey, where Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were struck by a vehicle while riding their bikes. According to police reports, the driver, Sean M. Higgins, was attempting to pass two slow-moving vehicles when the collision occurred. Authorities noted that Higgins had a “strong odor” of alcohol on his breath and later admitted to consuming five or six beers before getting behind the wheel.
Higgins, 43, is currently in police custody and has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide.
The tragic loss of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau has left a deep void in the lives of their loved ones and the broader hockey community, as they mourn the passing of two beloved figures taken far too soon.
