Johnny Gaudreau’s Wife Meredith Shares How She Learned of NHL Star’s Death
Meredith Gaudreau remembers everything about her and Johnny Gaudreau’s relationship.
In an essay written directly to her late husband in honor of Father’s Day, Meredith—who shares three kids with the late hockey star—walked through the most important moments of their time together. Including, heartbreakingly, the moment she learned Johnny and his brother Matthew Gaudreau had been killed in a car accident.
“It was going to be a great day,” Meredith wrote of August 29 in her essay for The Players Tribune, noting the family had a wedding the next day. “You kissed all of us goodbye and said you’d see us later. And that was that.”
Then, a call came in from Johnny’s sister, Katie Gaudreau.
“She said something had happened but she didn’t know what exactly,” Meredith wrote, noting her dad drove her to her in-laws’ house, adding to her late husband, “I was thinking the whole time about how I was going to help you through whatever it could be that had happened to Matty. And then I walked up the front porch and learned the absolute worst had happened and that it was both of you.”
Meredith—who was pregnant at the time of Johnny’s death—went on to detail the “indescribable” shock she experienced, writing she was “keeled over for days” feeling sick to her stomach.
She added of her sister-in-law Madeline, Matthew’s wife, “The only person who can relate to me is my own sister-in-law. I see her and my heart breaks for her. I’m sick for her.”
Instagram/ Meredith Gaudreau
In the ten months since, in addition to receiving “a lot of support” from her community, Meredith detailed how she’s found joy and healing in being able to share the kind of father Johnny was to their children Noa, 2, Johnny, 14 months—and how much he’d love their 2-month-old son Carter, who she welcomed seven months after his passing.
“The hockey world, the sports world, they showed up for us, too,” she wrote. “To see people go from just knowing about ‘Johnny Hockey,’ to hearing about how amazing of a father you were, of a person you were? I know that’s what would have mattered to you. You never cared if someone thought you were a good or bad player, you just wanted them to know you as John, Noa and Johnny’s dad.”
Meredith added, “You were perfect. I don’t know how you could have been better.”
She’s also loved seeing the ways her children are taking after their father.
Meredith Gaudreau / Instagram
“I see those wonderful bits of you in our kids every day,” she wrote. “Noa is so competitive, just like you. Small dark eyes, long curly black hair. The exact same smile.”
She added of her older son, “He’s got your personality. He’s a bit more quiet. He absorbs everything but only those closest to him get to see his funny side. He’s a listener. And I bet he’s going to be a sweet guy, just like you.”
And despite the pain of not having Johnny here, Meredith is still appreciative of every moment they had.
“Thank you for the very best years of my life,” she concluded. “Thank you for making us a family. Thank you for being my best friend, my favorite person, the man of my dreams. I love you so much. Forever and ever.”
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