COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – During the memorial service Monday for Johnny Gaudreau, the widow of the late professional hockey star, Meredith Gaudreau, announced that she is pregnant with their third child.
Gaudreau, who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, was killed on Aug. 29 when he was riding a bicycle along the right shoulder of a southern New Jersey road and got struck from behind. A driver had attempted to pass a car that had drifted to the center of the roadway to give Gaudreau space. He was killed alongside his brother, Matthew, who was biking with him.
Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were in New Jersey with other family for the wedding of their sister, Katie. The driver of the vehicle was Sean Higgins, 43, a rehab facility employee who told police he had been drinking. He remains in custody until at least his next court appearance Friday.
Johnny Gaudreau left behind Meredith, his wife of almost three years, and two children: Noa, born in September 2022, and Johnny, born this February. Meredith’s pregnancy was not known publicly until the memorial service, held in Broomall, Pennsylvania.
“We are actually a family of five,” Meredith said. “I’m in my ninth week pregnancy with our third baby. A total surprise but again, John was beaming and was so excited. I was so nervous, because this was, again, a total surprise, but his reaction was just immediately kissing me and hugging me — even though I was driving the car [when I told him].
“After the initial excitement sank in, every time, he looked at me, he would say, ‘You’re nuts, you know that?’ In less than three years of marriage, we created a family of five. It doesn’t even sound possible, but I look at it as the ultimate blessing.”
Watch: Meredith Gaudreau speaks at memorial service
Not only is Meredith pregnant, so is Matthew’s widow, Madeline, who is expecting their first child. Like Johnny, Matthew was a hockey player and more recently coach of a high school program in New Jersey.
Meredith expressed gratitude for the time she got with her husband.
“I’m so grateful for that day I met you and every day after that,” she said. “Thank you for choosing me as your wife and making me a mother. Thank you for being my best friend. I miss you so much, and I love you. Please watch over us.”
At the service were Johnny’s Blue Jackets teammates and front office staff members after the team had a vigil last week at Nationwide Arena with hundreds of fans in attendance. The start of the season is about one month away, with the Blue Jackets’ first exhibition game Sept. 23 and their regular-season opener Oct. 10 against the Minnesota Wild.
“To Columbus and our Blue Jackets family,” Meredith said, “I can’t describe how shattered I am that I don’t get more time in your amazing city with John.”