Widow of NHL player who died in tragic accident announces during eulogy that she is pregnant

Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau, announced that she is pregnant with her third child during the memorial service for Johnny and his brother Matthew on Monday.

“John and I had the best six months as a family of four. That will always be the best six months of my life,” Meredith said at the memorial service. “There is one week that I will always remember – that will be the best week of my life out of those six months. We are actually a family of five. I am nine weeks pregnant with our third baby.”

She called the pregnancy a “total surprise.”

Their first child, daughter Noa Harper Gaudreau, was born on September 30, 2022. Their second child, son Johnny Edward Gaudreau, was born on February 22.

“Noa, our eldest, is not even two years old yet. In less than three years of marriage, we have created a family of five,” she said at the memorial service. “It sounds impossible, but I consider it the greatest blessing. How lucky am I to be the mother of John's three babies? Our last one is a blessing and so special despite these difficult circumstances.”

On August 29, 31-year-old Johnny Gaudreau and his 29-year-old brother Matthew Gaudreau were struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while riding bicycles in Salem County, New Jersey, police reported.

They were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving and two counts of vehicular manslaughter. His hearing is scheduled for September 13.

It was the night before her sister Katie's wedding.

Matthew Gaudreau’s widow Madeline is also expecting her first child.

The lives of the two brothers were honored at a service Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Media, Pennsylvania. They arrived side by side and were buried in the same manner.

“They slept in the same room until college and neither of them wanted to change that,” said Madeline Gaudreau.

“John took care of Matty and Matty took care of John. It comforts me to know that they will stay together forever, just like they always have been.”

“The fact that you two are together in heaven gives me some comfort,” Meredith said of the siblings. “I know that John couldn't live a day without his brother. That the silly conversation they just had was picked up in a flash in heaven.”

Pallbearers for Johnny included NHL players Kevin Hayes, Andrew Mangiapane and Sean Monahan, while Matthew's casket was carried by Devinn Joyce, his future brother-in-law, among others.

The funeral was followed by a private viewing on Sunday.