The wife of late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau has paid tribute to her husband in a heartbreaking post on Instagram after his tragic death this week.
Gaudreau, 31, and younger brother Matthew, 29, were killed in a bicycle accident on Thursday night after being struck by an alleged drink driver in New Jersey.
The pair died on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding, where they were both set to be groomsmen on Friday. The wedding was subsequently cancelled in the wake of the tragedy.
Johnny’s wife Meredith, who was also expected to be a maid of honor on the day, broke her silence on Saturday following the devastating loss of her husband and brother-in-law.
Along with a selection of photos of the couple and their two children – daughter Noa, one, and six-month-old son Johnny – Meredith wrote: ‘The absolute best dad in the world. So caring and loving.
The wife of late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau has paid tribute to her husband in a heartbreaking post on Instagram after his tragic death
Gaudreau (right), 31, and younger brother Matthew (left), 29, were both killed after being struck by an alleged drunk driver while out cycling in New Jersey on Thursday night
‘The best partner to go through parenthood with. John never missed a single appointment. Was the best at putting the baby to sleep and the Apple of Noa’s eye. I love how much she looks like him.
‘We are going to make you proud. We love you so so so much daddy’.
Meredith and Johnny tied the knot in September 2021, one year after the hockey player proposed.
They welcomed first child, daughter Noa, in October 2022 before son Johnny was born in February of this year.
Johnny’s brother Matthew, meanwhile, leaves behind wife Madeline just over three years on from their wedding.
To add to the tragedy, it has been revealed that Madeline is currently pregnant with the couple’s first child.
Johnny, an NHL veteran who was about to enter his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Matthew, a professional hockey player in the ECHL, were struck and killed by another vehicle, driven by 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins of Woodstown, New Jersey, who is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Meredith, who married Johnny in 2021, branded her husband ‘the absolute best dad in the world’ after sharing a series of family photos
The Columbus Blue Jackets star leaves behind his wife and their two children; daughter Noa (right), one, and six-month-old son Johnny (bottom)
Meredith vowed to do Johnny ‘proud’ in her devastating first statement after his passing
The hockey player only welcomed second child Johnny (pictured) in February of this year
The couple’s daughter Noa was born in October 2022, just over a year on from their wedding
The crash happened less than three miles from the Gaudreau family home, hours before Katie was due to marry partner Devin Joyce.
Higgins, a decorated US Army officer and father-of-two, has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide with no bail or bond.
He was two cars behind the Gaudreau brothers, driving north on County Road 551, when he veered into the southbound lane to overtake the vehicles in front of him. He passed one with ease and was about to overtake the second – an SUV – when its driver veered into the middle of the road to safely pass Johnny and Matthew.
Higgins then cut back into the northbound lane – knocking them both down and killing them.
In documents seen by DailyMail.com, he admitted to cops that he drank ‘5-6 beers’ before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and crashing into the back of the Gaudreau brothers.
On Friday, police released a photo of him looking glassy-eyed in his mugshot after he was arrested and charged.
Sean M. Higgins, who is accused of killing the Gaudreau brothers while under the influence of alcohol in a horror crash, admitted he had ‘five or six’ drinks before getting behind the wheel
Higgins knocked down and killed the pair after veering into the southbound lane to overtake the vehicles in front of him
He seemed to sigh in frustration after being ordered to stay in jail until next Thursday after appearing in court via video link on Friday
Higgins then made his first court appearance on Friday in Salem County Court via video link, where he outrageously appeared to sigh in frustration after being ordered to stay in custody until next Thursday.
After being told by judge Michael J. Silvanio that he must remain in jail for another six days, he could be heard asking in apparent disbelief: ‘So… I’m here until Thursday?’
Silvanio then explained that the usual 72-hour holding period was being extended due to the holiday weekend, prompting Higgins to lean back in his chair and let out a heavy sigh – despite the fact he is facing two counts of second degree vehicle manslaughter.
He appeared on the video link wearing a dark-green vest with velcro on the shoulders and a bandage on his wrist and appeared expressionless as the judge recounted how the accident claimed the lives of the Gaudreau brothers.
Pittsburgh Penguins star Kevin Hayes posted a touching tribute to his fallen college hockey teammate Gaudreau three years after the tragic loss of his own brother, former NHLer Jimmy Hayes.
On his Instagram story, Kevin posted a photo of Gaudreau reaching out to give Hayes’ nephew, Beau, a high five.
Beau’s father is Jimmy, who passed away in August 2021, the day after his son’s second birthday.
‘Love you John!’ Hayes said on Instagram. ‘Say hello to Beau’s Dad for me.’
Gaudreau and Hayes were teammates at Boston College, but the pair of NHL veterans never played on the same professional team.
