Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of NHL player Johnny Gaudreau, took to Instagram to express her love and gratitude for her late husband, whom she described as the “absolute best dad in the world.” Johnny Gaudreau tragically lost his life in a bicycle accident after being struck by a car the night before his sister’s wedding.
In a heartfelt post on Saturday, Meredith shared her deep emotions, saying, “Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours.” She expressed her love for Johnny and reminisced about their time together, calling him perfect and expressing her eagerness to be reunited with him someday.
Another post included photos of Johnny with their children, highlighting his role as a loving and caring father. Meredith praised Johnny for his dedication to their family and his exceptional parenting skills, mentioning how he never missed an appointment and was excellent at putting their baby to sleep.
Tragedy struck when Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother, Matt, were hit by a suspected drunk driver while biking in Oldmans Township near their hometown of Carneys Point, New Jersey. Both brothers were expected to be groomsmen at their sister’s wedding, which was ultimately canceled due to the devastating incident.
Carneys Point Township committee member Wayne Pelura commented on the deep impact of the loss, stating, “The boys grew up here. They were involved in youth sports here. Everybody knows them. Everybody knows the sisters. It’s just a sad, sad situation.”
The driver involved in the accident was charged with two counts of death by auto, as well as other related offenses. Johnny Gaudreau, also known as “Johnny Hockey,” had a successful career in the NHL, playing 10 seasons and recently signing a seven-year, $68 million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets after his time with the Calgary Flames.
The community mourns the loss of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, remembering them for their involvement in the community and the impact they had on those around them.
