Meredith Gaudreau says hockey season is ‘tough’ after Johnny’s death

The hockey season is not the same for Meredith Gaudreau after the tragic death of her late husband Johnny Gaudreau.

“It's been really hard witnessing the hockey restart and seeing how different my life is now,” Meredith wrote on Instagram on Friday, September 20, alongside an old video interview with Johnny. “My whole life has been spent taking care of John and our kids. This is all I've ever wanted.”

The couple has daughter Noa, 23 months, and son Johnny, 6 months. Meredith announced during Johnny's recent memorial service that she is currently expecting baby No. 3. In her post, Meredith added that the only bright side is that she gets to see her late husband being honored every day by his friend and teammate. Sean Monahan.

Johnny and Monahan, 29, played together for the Calgary Flames. Johnny later moved to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The pair were expected to reunite this year after Monahan signed with the Blue Jackets in the offseason.

Related: Chronology of the relationship between Johnny Gaudreau and his wife Meredith Gaudreau

Courtesy of Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram Johnny Gaudreau and his wife Meredith Gaudreau were married for three years before his untimely passing. Meredith was Johnny's biggest fan on the ice when he played for the Columbus Blue Jackets. “Last game of the season tonight 🥲. I love our guy so much 💙❤️,” she wrote via Instagram […]

“But seeing Sean in CBJ is something John has always wanted, I know that,” she continued. “Noa loves cheering on Uncle Sean too. I hope 23 has a great training camp and can't wait to cheer you on 💙.”

On Friday, Meredith already spoke about how it was a “difficult time” for her before Noa’s second birthday.

“She loves watching videos of daddy before bed, especially her requests for 'daddy hockey' which led me to these videos,” she wrote under another interview Johnny did about his family. “She loves watching him play and cheering him on through the screen. His biggest fan.”

She continued, “They loved each other so much. She even has the same freckle as him on her right cheek. And since she's about to turn 2, I've been told their personalities are getting more and more similar ❤️ and I can't wait for that to continue.”

While watching the videos again, Meredith said she was so “grateful” for her “perfect husband.”

“To be honest, since the day I met him, I have never not felt like the luckiest, most grateful girl in the world,” she continued. “Videos like this are the reason why. I love you so much, John. Thank you for being the perfect husband.”

Related: Every time the Gaudreau family remembered Johnny and Matthew

Courtesy of Madeline Gaudreau/Instagram Members of the Gaudreau family have continued to speak out following the deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau. Johnny and Matthew died on the evening of August 29 while riding their bikes in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. Us Weekly can confirm that the brothers were hit by a car […]

In August, Johnny and his brother, Matthew Gaudreauwere struck and killed while riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. Johnny was 31, Matthew 29. We weekly confirmed that the hockey players were hit by Sean M. Higginswho was arrested and charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter. He is suspected of being drunk at the time of the incident.

Matthew and Johnny were to be best men in their sister Katie Gaudreau's wedding, which was supposed to take place the day after the accident. The ceremony was postponed after the tragedy.