Johnny Gaudreau's Wife Speaks Out After NHL Star and His Brother Killed in Tragic Accident: 'You Were Perfect'

Mar. 15, 2025

Johnny and Meredith Gaudreau.Photo:Johnny Gaudreau/instagram

Johnny Gaudreau/instagram

The widow of late hockey playerJohnny Gaudreauhas spoken out publicly for the first time since he was killed in a bike accident.

On Saturday, Aug. 31, Meredith Gaudreau released a statement about her husband’s death, sharing two posts on Instagram where she paid tribute to him as a partner and father.

“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 began the caption of the firstpost.

Meredith continued, adding, “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.”

Alongside her emotional tribute to her husband, she posted a carousel of images, beginning with a photo of herself and Johnny with their two children — daughter Noa, who turns 2 in October, and son Johnny, 7 months — sitting at a table that featured a 31st birthday cake (Johnny had turned 31 on Aug. 13).

Other images showed the NHL star solo and sweet moments from the couple’s time together, including making funny faces for selfies together, hugging, at events and on a golf course.

Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau in 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Richard T Gagnon/Getty

Richard T Gagnon/Getty

Her second tribute to her husband also included photos of Johnny with the couple’s children over the years, including hanging out at home and on outings to the beach and the pool, as well as watching him play hockey.

“When my time does end here, you know, I hope people will remember me as a good person off the ice, a good teammate, and just a good person, I think,” he said, in part. Johnny played on the Flames from 2013 until 2022.The video later cut to a voiceover of his brother Matthew Gaudreau talking about the brothers' close relationship as clips of them together played.

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On Aug. 29, Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, diedin a biking accidentin Oldmans Township, New Jersey, close to their hometown of Salem County, PEOPLE confirmed. They were reportedly in their hometown to serve as groomsmen in their sister Katie Gaudreau’s wedding on Aug. 30, according to a wedding website.

Johnny and Matthew were biking on Country Route 551 North just after 8 p.m. when a driver suspected to be under the influence of alcohol attempted to pass another car and fatally hit the brothers, New Jersey State Police said in a statement provided to PEOPLE at the time.

The statement confirmed the suspect had been traveling in a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind a sedan and SUV.

“Higgins attempted to pass the slower-moving sedan and SUV, entered the southbound lanes of travel, passed the slower-moving sedan, and attempted to re-enter the northbound lanes of travel when the SUV in front of Higgins moved to the middle of the roadway, splitting the north and south lanes to safely pass the two pedal cyclist traveling north on the right side of the roadway,” police said.

“Higgins then attempted to pass the SUV on the right and struck the two pedal cyclists in the rear. As a result of the collision, the two pedal cyclists sustained fatal injuries,” the statement added.

source: people.com