NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau’s Wife, Meredith, Speaks Out after His Tragic Death at 31

The NHL star Johnny Gaudreau’s wife, Meredith Gaudreau, shared a heartfelt tribute to her late husband, who tragically lost his life in a suspected drunk driving incident.

Meredith shared on an Instagram post that her husband was perfect, often making life feel almost too good to be true. She loved every single thing about him.

“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,” she expressed.

She conveyed that he would always be her forever and eagerly anticipated the day they would be together again, emphasizing her deep and lasting love for him.

The photos shared with the post captured a couple very much in love. They were playful and carefree in most of the images.

Meredith and her husband were pictured cuddling, hugging, enjoying rounds of golf, relaxing with their kids, and spending time with their dog. Whether with friends or alone, they always seemed happy, often smiling and laughing together.

Johnny and Meredith married in 2021 and are parents to two children, their daughter Noa and their son Johnny. The NHL star’s wife made a separate post, celebrating the kind of father Johnny was.

She wrote, “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.”

Meredith mentioned how Johnny Gaudreau had a special talent for putting their baby to sleep and was the apple of Noa’s eye. She also loved how much their daughter resembled him.

She promised her husband, “We are going to make you proud. We love you so so so much daddy.” Meredith shared heartwarming photos of Johnny as a devoted and hands-on father.

In some images, he was seen taking a walk with their daughter, while in others, they enjoyed playful moments at the beach.

Other photos captured Johnny tenderly holding their infant son, who often napped peacefully on his chest as Johnny relaxed on the sofa.

One particularly sweet picture showed Johnny in his full sports gear, ready for a game, with an adoring Noa watching him intently.

These moments clearly showcased Johnny’s deep bond with his children as his affection and connection with his family were evident in every image.

Johnny and his brother Matty were riding a bike together and both lost their lives in the suspected drunk driving incident. Meredith paid tribute to their close bond.

She pointed out how inseparable they were, as if connected hip to hip. Meredith emphasized that Johnny and Matty were always mentioned together, side by side, even in large gatherings.

The NHL star’s wife divulged, “John’s younger brother- but he looked up to Matty and relied on him for everythinggg. And Matty was always there.”

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.

She wrote, “I would sit back and watch John genuinely love his time with his brother. Matty, thank you for loving our babies like your own and for being such an amazing uncle and godfather.”

Meredith promised to honor their memory by becoming a supportive aunt to Tripp, Matty’s unborn child. She expressed her comfort in knowing that Johnny and Matty are together in heaven.

She also vowed to care for Madeline, Matty’s wife, and Tripp, with all her love. Meredith concluded with a heartfelt message, saying they are deeply loved and cherished.

The mom of two shared heartfelt images of Matty being an integral part of Noa’s baptism and the brothers proudly standing as groomsmen at their wedding.

Matty and Johnny’s families are devasted for losing the two men, who were husbands, fathers, sons, nephews, cousins, brothers, brothers-in-law, and amazing humans to them.

They have acknowledged the messages of love and support they have received from friends, fans, and teammates. The families also appreciate the continued prayers and thoughts.

They wrote in a statement, “We ask for continued respect and privacy during this very difficult period of grief.” In the midst of their sorrow, the brothers’ families find solace in supporting one another and holding tight to their shared memories.

As we previously reported, details divulging the tragic news of Johnny and Matty’s death were shared online. The brothers were tragically killed after they were struck down by a passing car in Oldmans Township at approximately 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 called Stumpy Lane when the accident occurred. Johnny’s hockey team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, posted a statement about his demise on X earlier today, August 30. The lengthy message notes how devastated and shocked the team is by the sad news.

Boasting about how incredible of a player and person Johnny was, their statement divulged, “Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”

They go on to highlight how joyful Johnny would be in every game he played—a joy that was felt by everybody else who got to see the late star play. Johnny always brought his A-game and passion for the sport everywhere he went.

His hockey career took him from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets, where he served as the team’s winger.

“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,” mentioned the Columbus Blue Jackets in their statement.

The grieving team went on to reiterate how much the superstar athlete is missed by them and their community and ended their message by asking the public to pray for the Gaudreau family, who are dealing with an unimaginable loss.

The Columbus Blue Jackets also asked that the bereaved family’s privacy be respected. In the same way that Johnny’s hockey team shared a statement about his passing, the Commissioner of the NHL, Gary Bettman, shared some words about the tragedy as well.

He penned a lengthy message on the official Public Relations website page of the NHL that spotlighted the incredible legacy Johnny has left behind as one of the League’s “brightest young stars” during his impressive 11 seasons in the NHL.

“We send our most [heartfelt] condolences to his wife Meredith; their children, Noa and Johnny; his parents, Guy and Jane; and sisters Kristen and Katie,” wrote Gary at the end of his statement.

The devastating news of Johnny and Matthew’s passing comes after numerous reports had first announced that the accident had taken place. However, at the time, the two victims had not been identified as Johnny and Matthew yet.

A report from 6abc Action News discussed the scenario and divulged that the New Jersey State Police disclosed that the person who had been driving the vehicle that struck Johnny and Matthew had stayed on the scene after the accident. Authorities also shared that they believed the driver to be under the influence.

X was also ablaze with announcements about the accident. A woman named Elaine Shircliff posted, “Spoke with the New Jersey State Police and was informed they are getting bombarded with phone calls and cannot release any information at this time.”

She added that they could not confirm or deny the rumors that it was indeed Johnny and his brother who were the two victims.

However, on the same day Elaine tweeted her message, another X user named Steve Franklin shared an update of his own. In Steve’s update, he said that his brother, who is a police officer in Salem County, New Jersey, confirmed to him that it was the late NHL star and his brother who died.

After this tweet, Tim Peel, a retired NHL referee, took to X to say, “Reports are that Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by a drunk driver [tonight]. Please pray that this is not true!”