Johnny Gaudreau and his wife, Meredith Gaudreau, were married for three years before his untimely death.
Meredith was Johnny’s No. 1 fan on the ice as he played for the Columbus Blue Jackets. “Last game of the season tonight 🥲. Love our guy so much 💙❤️ ,” she wrote via Instagram in April 2024 alongside a photo of the couple with daughter Noa and son Johnny.
Four months later, news broke on August 30, 2024, that the NHL player had died in a biking accident in New Jersey alongside his brother, Matthew.
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy,” the Ohio hockey team said in a statement at the time. “Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving father, son, brother and friend.”
The message continued, “We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Meredith, his children Noa and Johnny, his parents, their family and friends on the sudden death of Johnny and Matthew.”
The Gaudreau brothers were in NJ for their sister Katie’s wedding, which was scheduled for August 31, 2024.
Keep scrolling to revisit Johnny and Meredith’s love story:
2018
Johnny and Meredith met in New Jersey, where he lived in the NHL offseason.
February 2020
Johnny and Meredith made their social media debut in February. Meredith, a registered nurse, shared photos from the pair’s visit to Canada’s Lake Louise via Instagram, captioning it with a snowflake and Canadian flag emoji. (At the time, Johnny played hockey for the Calgary Flames.)
September 2020
Johnny proposed the following September at the Avalon Jetty in New Jersey.
“Forever and ever. We’re getting married!!! I love you so much, John 🤍,” Meredith wrote via Instagram.
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September 2021
Shortly before the couple’s wedding, Johnny could hardly stand to be away from Meredith for the duration of his bachelor party.
“One of my favorite memories [was] John sneaking out of his own bachelor party and showing up to my parents’ house to be with Meredith,” Meredith’s sister, Lily Morris, wrote via Instagram Story in August 2024. “A small glimpse into how much he loves my sister.”
Meredith reposted her sibling’s message, penned in honor of Johnny’s death, to reveal that Johnny “did this three different times” during the party.
The couple got married in September, with Johnny captioning wedding photos, “What a weekend!! Very lucky!!🤍🖤.”
September 2022
Shortly after Johnny signed with the Blue Jackets, the pair became parents for the first time. Daughter Noa Harper was born on September 30 with “a ton of black hair,” according to Meredith’s Instagram announcement.
February 2024
The couple’s son, Johnny Edward, was born two years later on February 22.
“Love you @johngaudreau03 – 2 under 2 life here we comeeee 🥰,” Meredith quipped via Instagram.
One month later, baby Johnny went to his first Blue Jackets game with Meredith and Noa.
August 2024
News broke that Johnny and his brother Matthew died at the respective ages of 31 and 29. They were struck and killed while biking in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.
“Johnny played the game with great joy, which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice,” a statement from the Blue Jackets read. “He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played, from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets. … We will miss him terribly and do everything that we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy. At this time, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau family and that their privacy be respected as they grieve.”
Meredith broke her silence several hours later, sharing heartfelt tributes via Instagram.
“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 wrote on August 31. “You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much forever and ever.”
In a second message, Meredith praised Johnny as “the absolute best dad,” adding, “[You were] so caring and loving. 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.”
September 2024
During her eulogy at Johnny’s memorial service on Monday, September 9, Meredith announced she was pregnant with the couple’s third child.
“We’re actually a family of five,” Meredith said at the funeral held at St. Mary Magdalen Parish outside Philadelphia. “I’m in my ninth week of pregnancy with our third baby. A total surprise, but again, John was beaming and so excited.”
Meredith added, “I was so nervous because this was, again, a total surprise. But his reaction was just immediately kissing me and hugging me even though I was driving the car. After the initial excitement sank in, every time he looked at me, he would say, ‘You’re nuts, you know that? Three kids?’”
During her emotional remarks, Meredith said having three kids in three years of marriage “doesn’t even sound possible.”
“But I look at it as the ultimate blessing,” she said. “How lucky am I to be the mother of John’s three babies? Our last one being a blessing and so special, despite these difficult circumstances. To my babies, daddy loves you all so much and you have the best daddy in the world.”
