Although Johnny Gaudreau left the Flames for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022, his love for Calgary was evident.
After he had signed with the Blue Jackets, Gaudreau wrote a letter to Calgary published in the Players Tribune, where he explained that his decision to leave the city just had to do with him wanting to be closer to his family while raising his kids.
”One day, Meredith and I hope to bring our family back to Calgary to show them all our favourite spots and things to do,” Gaudreau wrote in the letter.
Earlier this summer, Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthews were tragically killed in a bycing accident by an alleged drunk driver.
On Monday, the funeral for the young men, sons, brothers, and fathers was held at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Media, Pa.
More than ten players from teams all around the NHL were there as well, and during the memorial service, they heard Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, announcing that she’s nine weeks pregnant with their third baby.
”John and I had the best six months as a family of four. These will forever be the best six months of my life,” Meredith Gaudreau said. ”There’s specifically one week that I will cherish forever — it will be my favorite week of my life out of those six months. We’re actually a family of five. I’m in my ninth week of pregnancy with our third baby.”
While saying the pregnancy was a ’total surprise’ for the family, Johnny couldn’t have been more excited, according to Meredith.
”His reaction was just immediately kissing me and hugging me,” Meredith said.
Both Meredith and Matthew’s wife Madeline held beautiful eulogies. In Meredith’s, she spoke directly to NHL players Sean Monahan, who played with Johnny for years in Calgary, and Kevin Hayes, who was recently aquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
”Sean, John loved you so much,” Meredith said to Monahan. “You had such an effortless and genuine bond that I was honoured to be a part of. As one of a kind as John was, I think you’re as close as it gets to being just like him. Whatever you did, he copied. If you bought a new truck, we were in the truck lot the next day. You got a goldendoodle, John got a goldendoodle. If you were at the dog park we were on our way. If you were leaving the party, John was grabbing me to leave, also.”
Kevin Hayes lost his own brother, Jimmy, in 2021.
”The friendship and bond you guys have created despite any distance is so strong and admirable,” Meredith said. “John would always show me the sentimental and hilarious reels that you would send him on Instagram about brotherhood, because he was so honoured for them. You have been through so much and you were never not there for John, no matter what.”
