IT has been one year since the tragic deaths of ice hockey stars Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau in New Jersey.
The brothers were struck by a drunk driver on August 29, 2024 – the day before their sister, Katie’s, wedding.
Madeline and Meredith Gaudreau spent the first anniversary of their husbands’ deaths together[/caption]
Johnny Gaudreau pictured with wife Meredith[/caption]
Matthew Gaudreau and wife Madeline Gaudreau before the ex-NHL player was killed[/caption]
Widows Madeline and Meredith have marked the first anniversary of the pair’s passing with a beach visit alongside their children.
In an Instagram Stories post, Meredith shared a photo of herself with
Madeline, posing with daughter Noa.
Meanwhile, Madeline shared an image of Tripp splashing in the Jersey
Shore waves as his father and uncle were commemorated.
Brothers Matthew and Johnny were out cycling in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, when they were struck and killed.
Johnny was aged 31, while Matthew was 29 at the time of their deaths.
Older brother Johnny started his NHL career with the Calgary Flames in 2014, spending nine seasons in Canada.
He played for a further two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets
before his death.
Former Blue Jackets teammate Sean Monahan broke down in tears during a tribute to the brothers as Johnny’s former sides faced off in December 2024.
In addition to his NHL career, he represented the United States and Team North America at the international level.
Johnny was commemorated during Team USA’s defeat against Canada in February 2025, with chants of “Johnny Hockey” echoing around Boston’s TD Garden.
Younger brother Matthew spent the majority of his career with several teams in the American Hockey League and the ECHL.
During the 2020-21 season, Matthew travelled to Sweden to join Tyringe SoSS in the third-tier Hockeyettan.
Driver Sean Higgins was charged with two counts of death by auto and reckless driving.
He pleaded not guilty in January after turning down a plea deal that
would have seen him spend 35 years in prison.
Higgins is due back in court on September 18.
The brothers’ widows have opted to visit the Jersey Shore on the anniversary of their deaths to commemorate a year since their passing.
Matthew’s widow, Meredith, shared that she was pregnant with the
couple’s third child while delivering her heartbreaking eulogy at their
funeral.
She gave birth to Tripp Matthew four months after her husband’s untimely death.
Additionally, Johnny’s widow Madeline was also pregnant at the time of the pair’s passing.
Madeline gave birth to their son, Carter, seven months after the fatal
incident.
