Meredith Gaudreau is opening up about the deep pain she’s experiencing as the NHL season begins without her late husband, Johnny Gaudreau. As the Columbus Blue Jackets and other teams take to the ice, Meredith and the Gaudreau family are still grappling with the tragic loss of Johnny, 31, and his younger brother Matthew, 29. The brothers were killed late last month in a devastating accident involving an alleged drunk driver while they were riding bicycles on the eve of their sister’s wedding.
In the wake of their deaths, the Gaudreau family held a joint funeral on September 9, where both Meredith and Matthew’s widow, Madeline, gave heart-wrenching tributes to their husbands. Adding another layer of heartbreak, both women are pregnant, making the loss even more profound.
On Friday, Meredith took to Instagram to express her grief, sharing how the start of the NHL season has intensified her pain. Watching hockey, which had been such a central part of her life with Johnny, has been a difficult reminder of the life they once shared.
“It’s been really hard watching hockey start up and seeing how different my life is now,” Meredith wrote in her emotional post. “My whole life was taking care of John and our kids. It’s all I ever wanted.”
Meredith also touched on the presence of Sean Monahan, Johnny’s close friend and former teammate, who recently signed with the Blue Jackets. The two had played together for eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, and Johnny had been excited to reunite with Monahan in Columbus this offseason. Meredith shared that her daughter, Noa, who will turn 2 next month, now cheers for “Uncle Sean.”
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“Watching Sean wear CBJ is something I know John always wanted,” Meredith wrote. “Noa loves cheering for Uncle Sean too. Wishing 23 a good training camp and can’t wait to cheer you on.”
In another deeply personal post, Meredith shared a touching video of Johnny discussing the importance of family in his life. In the clip, Johnny expresses that no amount of money could replace the love he had for his family. “You can give me any blank check or any amount of money, it’s not going to change for me. I’m big into family, my family’s super close, and that’s the most important thing to me,” he said.
Meredith’s caption read, “my perfect husband,” as she reflected on the life they built together. “I want to say that watching these videos has me feeling so thankful, but to be honest, I never once didn’t feel like the luckiest, most grateful girl in the world since the day I met him. Videos like this are why. I love you so much, John. Thank you for being the perfect husband.”
The couple shared two young children together, daughter Noa and son Johnny, who is just 7 months old. Meredith also revealed during Johnny’s memorial service that she is expecting another child with her late husband next year.
“Noa, our oldest, hasn’t even turned 2 yet,” Meredith said during her eulogy. “In less than three years of marriage, we’ve created a family of five. It doesn’t even sound possible, but I look at it as the ultimate blessing. How lucky am I to be the mother of John’s three babies? Our last one being a blessing and so special despite these difficult circumstances.”
As the Blue Jackets prepare for the upcoming season, the team has planned several tributes to honor Johnny’s memory. The 11-year NHL veteran, who signed with Columbus in 2022, will be remembered through jersey patches and helmet stickers worn by the players throughout the season. Additionally, the team will set up Johnny’s locker at every game, both home and away, ensuring his presence is felt by his teammates.
“He’s going to be with us,” head coach Dean Evason said at the team’s media day. “He’s going to be a presence.”
The Columbus Blue Jackets begin their preseason with a game against the Buffalo Sabres, but the weight of Johnny’s absence will be felt both on the ice and in the stands as Meredith, their children, and the Gaudreau family continue to navigate life without him.
