2024 was supposed to be a busy year Johnny and Matthew Goudreau.
Johnny was set to enter his third season with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets and welcome his third child with his wife, Meredith Gaudreau. Matthew was preparing to move on from his coaching job with the North American Hockey League's Philadelphia Rebels and welcome his first child with his wife. Madeleine Goudreau.
On the evening of August 29, it was all over in an instant.
The night before their sister Katie GaudreauAt Johnny and Matthew's wedding, they were killed while riding bicycles in Oldman's Township, New Jersey. Sean M. HigginsThe man who hit the brothers with his jeep was drunk at the time of the accident and He is still in prison on multiple charges, including two counts of vehicular homicide.
Courtesy of Madeline Gaudreau/Instagram Gaudreau family members have continued to speak out in the wake of the deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau. Johnny and Matthew died on the evening of August 29 while riding their bikes in Oldman's Township, New Jersey. Us Weekly can confirm that the brothers (…)
Johnny was 31 years old. Matthew was 29 years old.
The unspeakable tragedy sent ripples through the hockey community and the sports world as a whole. An emotional memorial service for Johnny and Matthew, who were once teammates at Boston College, was held Sept. 9 at St. Mary Magdalene Parish outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It was at their funeral 12 days later, which was attended by a large group of Johnny's former Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames teammates, that Meredith She announced that she was pregnant.
“We're actually a family of five,” Meredith — who shared her daughter NoahNow 2, and a son JohnnyNow 9 months – she said during her memorial service. “I'm nine weeks pregnant with our third child. It was a complete surprise, but again, John was so thrilled and excited.
Meredith added: “I was so nervous because this was a complete surprise again. But his immediate reaction was to kiss me and hug me even though I was driving. After the initial excitement subsided, every time he looked at me he said, ‘You're crazy, you know? That?” Three children?
during Her memorialMadeline discussed the alternate reality reality she has on her feet and that of her soon-to-be-born child, who will be named Tripp.
“Matt will be surrounded by his son for the rest of his life.” She added, “I am so grateful that God gave us a child, little Matty, to live a lifetime and continue his legacy. Tripp will know how much his father loves him, and I promise to do all the things we talked about with him.”
In the weeks and months that followed, the Gaudreau family and the hockey world made a concerted effort to keep the memories of Johnny and Matthew alive.
The Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, New Jersey, where Johnny and Matthew grew up playing hockey, paid tribute to the brothers at a ceremony on September 13, which was In the presence of their parentsJay and Jane.
More than a dozen Blue Jackets team members, as well as their wives and girlfriends, attended the event Noah's second birthday party On September 30th. “We love you all,” Meredith wrote on Instagram alongside a photo from the party. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart, a very special group that will forever be family to me and my children.”
During the Blue Jackets' first regular season home game since the tragedy, he was Johnny's best friend Sean Monahan – Who played with Johnny in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and signed with Columbus to play with his friend again – sEngraved and pointed to the sign Johnny is honored inside Nationwide Arena.
Perhaps the most exciting honor came on Dec. 3, when the entire Gaudreau family returned to Calgary, where Johnny spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career.
A pregame video was shown honoring Johnny's legacy, as the family took to the ice inside the Scotiabank Saddledome to ceremoniously drop the puck, and Jay showed up in the Flames' locker room to greet several of his son's former teammates — Meredith even got a tattoo of Johnny's signature . Her first, to honor her late husband.
While the depth of Johnny and Matthew's deaths is almost indescribable, there is some light at the end of this tunnel.
After her siblings were murdered hours before her wedding in August, Katie Goudreau did just that Determine a new wedding date. Katie and her fiancé, Devin JoyceThey are scheduled to tie the knot on July 11, 2025 in Philadelphia.
