Johnny Gaudreau's widow posts moving tribute to her husband after his tragic death

Johnny Gaudreau's widow posted a moving tribute to her late husband on Saturday morning, remembering him as a great partner and father.

“Thank you for the best years of my life. Even though I lost you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world because I was yours,” Meredith Gaudreau wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday.

“I love you so much. You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love everything about you. You are mine forever and I can't wait to be with you again. I love you so much, always and forever.”

Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, were killed Thursday night when a suspected drunk driver struck them as they rode their bicycles on a two-lane highway in Oldmans Township, Salem County.

Meredith Gaudreau presented a slideshow of happy moments, including walking hand in hand with his daughter and sitting on the beach with his sleeping baby on his chest.

“The absolute best father in the world. So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenting with. John never missed a single appointment,” Gaudreau's wife continued.

“She was the best at putting the baby to bed and was the apple of Noah's eye. I love how much she looks like him. We are going to make you proud. We love you so, so, so much, Daddy.”

The Gaudreau brothers were in New Jersey on Friday to attend their sister's wedding before the tragic crash occurred on Thursday evening at around 8:30 p.m.

They both played hockey at Boston College and Johnny Gaudreau was selected in the fourth round by the Calgary Flames in 2011 before signing a long-term contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022.

His younger brother Matthew Gaudreau briefly played minor league hockey and was most recently coach of the Gloucester Catholic hockey team, where the brothers played in high school.

Matthew Gaudreau and his wife Madeline are expecting their first child in December, and a GoFundMe campaign organized by his sister-in-law Holland Korbitz has raised over $330,000 for the family as of Saturday afternoon.

Sean M. Higgins, 43, of Pilesgrove is accused of hitting the brothers with his SUV while drunk Thursday night, authorities said. He remains in custody awaiting a detention hearing later next week.

After news of the brothers' deaths was announced Friday morning, condolences, messages of support and memories of the brothers and the Gaudreau family poured in from around the world.

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You can reach Matthew Enuco at [email protected]. Follow Matt on X