Johnny Gaudreau’s wife Meredith shares heartbreaking tribute to late NHL star on their three-year wedding anniversary after tragic death
Johnny Gaudreau’s wife Meredith paid tribute to the late NHL star on the occasion of their three-year wedding anniversary.
Gaudreau, 31, and his 29-year-old brother Matthew were killed last Thursday after they were struck by a vehicle while riding bicycles in New Jersey, the night before their sister Katie’s wedding.
And three years to the day Johnny and Meredith exchanged their vows, the latter wrote an emotional message to him on her Instagram page.
“I don’t post much, but John deserves it. Today marks 3 years since I became yours forever,” Meredith began.
“One of the best days of my life, including the night we got engaged and the days we brought our babies into the world. The day I met you, I remember saying to myself, OMG, I’m going to marry him. And every day after that just got better and better. I love you forever, John, and I’m so proud to be your wife.”
Gaudreau, 31 (pictured with his wife Meredith and their two children) and his younger brother Matthew, 29, were killed last Thursday after being struck by a car while cycling in New Jersey.
The hockey world is still in shock after the news of the tragic death of the two brothers last week
Johnny is survived by his wife Meredith and their two children; daughter Noa (second from right), one, and six-month-old son Johnny (bottom left)
The driver who killed Johnny and Matthew, Sean M. Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, has been charged with two counts of motor vehicle manslaughter, with no bail or bond required. He was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
In documents seen by DailyMail.com, alleged drunk driver Higgins admitted to police he had consumed “5-6 beers” before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and crashing into the Gaudreau brothers.
The accident happened less than three miles from the Gaudreau family home, just hours before Katie was to marry her partner Devin Joyce.
Meredith previously wrote on social media: ‘Thank you for the best years of my life. Even though I lost you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have had you. I love you so much.
“You were perfect. Sometimes it felt too good to be true. I love everything about you. You are mine forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much, forever and ever.”
Tributes to the Gaudreau brothers poured in throughout the weekend as the hockey world continues to grapple with the tragedy.
Thousands of fans have written tributes to the late NHL veteran Johnny Gaudreau at the home stadium of his former team, the Calgary Flames
A GoFundMe was set up for Matthew Gaudreau’s wife Madeline to support her and her growing child, Tripp.
The fund’s target of $30,000 has now been far exceeded, with more than $590,000 raised at the time of publication.
Thousands of mourning fans were also present at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the arena where the Calgary Flames – Gaudreau’s former team – play.
Supporters wrote messages in chalk in honor of Gaudreau, while the team showed a beautiful aerial view of the crowd of fans.
Gaudreau played the first nine of his 11 NHL seasons with the Flames, after which he spent two years with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Matthew was a professional hockey player in the ECHL.