The children of late hockey star Johnny Gaudreau paid tribute to their father on Halloween.
His wife Meredith Gaudreau — who shares two children with him and is pregnant with their third — posted a touching photo of their two-year-old daughter Noa and eight-month-old son Johnny Jr., posing in costumes their father picked out before his tragic death.
Noa dressed up as Jessie from Toy Story, while her younger brother donned a Buzz Lightyear costume, while Meredith shared a photo to her Instagram Story of the “Cuzzie Boo Crew.”
She added the iconic song “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” to the post and captioned it “Costumes Daddy wanted” with two heart emojis.
The NHL star, 31, died along with his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, 29, on August 29 after an alleged drunk driver, Sean Higgins, 43, crashed into them while biking along a highway in Salem County, New Jersey, the night before their sister was to get married.
Johnny Gaudreau’s wife shared a photo of her children wearing costumes that the late NHL star picked out for them before his tragic death in August. Their daughter was Jessie and their son was Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story
The NHL star, 31, died along with his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, 29, on August 29 after an alleged drunk driver, Sean Higgins, 43, encountered them while biking in Salem County, New Jersey. (Photo: Johnny, his wife and children)
Now, just three months after the brothers’ sudden deaths, the family has gathered to honor them in any way they can as they continue to grieve the tremendous loss.
A beautiful funeral service for the brothers was held on September 9 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania.
The brothers’ widows tearfully pay tribute to their husbands, remembering the close bond they shared as siblings and their dedication to family.
Matthew’s wife, Madeline Gaudreau, who is pregnant with their child, recalled how the brothers were “attached at the hip.”
“John would take care of Matty, and Matty would take care of John… You didn’t hear one name without the other,” she said.
“I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be his wife,” Johnny’s wife Meredith said during a heartbreaking speech. “He was and still is my soulmate.”
Loved ones and devoted fans gathered at the church more than two hours before the service began.
Teammates of Johnny, who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, former Boston College coach Jerry York and numerous members of the hockey community were among those in attendance.
During the service, Meredith shared in her eulogy that she was pregnant with her and Johnny’s third child.
A beautiful funeral service for the brothers was held on September 9 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania, where fans and family members gathered to say goodbye to the siblings.
“In less than three years of marriage, we have become a family of five,” she said. “It doesn’t even sound possible, but I consider it the ultimate blessing. How lucky I am to be the mother of John’s three babies. Our latest is a blessing and so special despite these difficult circumstances.”
Meredith, who married Johnny in September 2021, added that when she shared the news with her husband, he was “beaming” and “so excited.”
Sean Higgins, 43, was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving, possession of an open container and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle
“I was so nervous because again this was a total surprise, but his response was to immediately kiss and hug me,” Meredith said.
The Columbus Blue Jackets paid an emotional tribute to their late teammate during the team’s home opener in October.
Meredith and her two children walked across the ice, along with Blue Jackets star and Gaudreau’s boyfriend, Sean Monahan, as the team raised a banner with Johnny’s name and jersey number 13 to the rafters.
Fans cheered, both teams tapped their sticks on the ice in the traditional hockey salute, and his family watched from the sidelines, their arms intertwined.
Before the puck dropped, the teams stood still as 13 seconds ticked off the clock, and with his left wing position vacant, the Blue Jackets sent four skaters onto the ice instead of the usual five.
The brothers are seen with their sister, Katie, who postponed her wedding after their deaths
During the funeral, Meredith announced that she was pregnant with her and Johnny’s third child. (Photo: the couple and their first child Noa)
“I don’t want anyone to be sad,” Meredith said in a recorded message played shortly before the confrontation. “I want you all to be inspired by the life John lived. That means loving your family first, and when it’s time to drop the puck, let’s love the game John loved.”
Just weeks earlier, Meredith confessed that it was “really hard” to watch the hockey season restart after her husband’s death.
“It was very difficult to watch hockey start up and to see how different my life is now,” she wrote in a heartbreaking post on Instagram at the time.
‘I have cared for John and our children all my life. It’s everything I ever wanted.’
While Johnny was about to enter his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, his little brother Matthew was a former NCAA hockey star at Boston College.
He later became an assistant head coach for their high school hockey team.
His wife Meredith had her baby shower last month for their son Tripp, who is due in December.
The venue was decorated with ‘heavenly’ decorations as she shared images from the party, saying: ‘Baby Shower of my Dreams.’
‘…My husband would have loved all the balloons. The way you were able to tie up my husband brought tears to my eyes when I walked in,” Meredith said.
Guy Gaudreau, the father of the deceased brothers, watches the hearse drive away after his son’s service on September 9
The deceased brothers are seen with their mother, father and sister
Higgins, the driver accused of taking the brothers’ lives, was legally drunk at the time of the fatal incident, according to New Jersey prosecutors.
He was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. He has been denied bail in this case.
“You were probably driving like crazy, like I always tell you,” his wife told Higgins when he called her from jail after his arrest, according to First Assistant Salem County Prosecutor Jonathan Flynn. “And you don’t listen to me, you just yell at me.”
The Woodstown, New Jersey resident appeared virtually in court where he was ordered to stand trial over the objection of his attorneys, who claimed he was a married father and a law-abiding citizen before the fatal crash.
“He is an empathetic person and a loving father of two daughters,” said Higgins’ attorney Matthew Portella. “He’s a good person and he made a terrible decision that night.”
In documents seen by DailyMail.com, Higgins admitted to police that he drank “5-6 beers” before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and crashing into the Gaudreau brothers.
The Columbus Blue Jackets paid an emotional tribute to their late teammate during the team’s home opener in October as Meredith and their children walked the ice
He also failed a field sobriety test.
Prosecutors said Higgins had been drinking at home since 3 p.m. that day after having a disturbing conversation with a family member that day.
Flynn said Higgins was annoyed when two drivers in front of him slowed down to avoid the Gaudreaus as they cycled along a rural road. Higgins is said to have been trying to pass the cars on the right when he encountered the Gaudreau brothers.
“He indicated he had not even seen them,” said Superior Court Judge Michael J. Silvani.
Higgins has admitted that Silvanio said his “impatience” led to the deaths.
Silvanio has requested that Higgins remain in custody because he is considered a flight risk due to the lengthy sentence he faces.
He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on all counts.