Meredith Gaudreau 'Emotional' After Crowd Chants for Late Husband Johnny Gaudreau During USA-Canada Cup Final

Mar. 15, 2025

Meredith Gaudreau and Johnny Gaudreau.Photo:Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram

Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram

“So emotional hearing this all around me,” wrote Gaudreau’s wife,Meredith Gaudreau,on X in response to an ESPN videoof the crowd shouting “Johnny Hockey!”. Her husband, a Columbus Blue Jackets winger who won the nickname for his prowess on the ice,died alongside his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, a high school hockey coach, in a bike crash on Aug. 29, 2024.

“Kept thinking how I can’t wait to show these videos to our kids one day,” Meredith, who is expecting their third child, continued in the Feb. 21 post. (When Johnny died, their daughter Noa, was about to turn 2, and son Johnny, was 7 months. )

Meredith’s sister-in-law,Katie Gaudreau, also posted about hearing the chants for Johnny during the tournament, which ended with a 3-2 win for Canada in overtime. Her thoughts were on her elder brother, who would’ve likely played for Team USA if not for his death.

Katie Gaudreau with her brothers.Katie Gaudreau/Instagram

Katie Gaudreau/Instagram

“A reminder of who should be here,” wrote Katie in aFeb. 20 Instagram story, captioning a repost from the New England Sports Network that shows Johnny’s number 13 jersey encased in glass.

“I saw first hand how hard John worked this summer with Matty and Dad on the ice,” Katie continued. “This has been such a hard week because I know how bad he wanted to be playing tonight. Matty would have been John’s biggest support tonight. I love you both more than anything.”

Matthew, 29, and Johnny, 31, died on the eve of Katie’s wedding. The brothers were biking on a backroad in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, near their hometown of Salem County, when a driver suspected to be under the influence of alcohol attempted to pass another car and fatally hit the brothers, New Jersey State Police told PEOPLE at the time. (The driver, Sean M. Higgins, 44,pleaded not guiltyon Jan. 7 to charges related to the deaths, according toNJ.com, localNBC 10, andCBS News.)

Mike Eruzione wearing Johnny Gaudreau’s #13 jersey at the hockey cup final.Brian Babineau/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty

Brian Babineau/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty

The day after the crash, Johnny’s team called the loss an “unimaginable tragedy,” in a statement posted onX.

“Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their family and friends on the sudden loss of Johnny and Matthew," the statement read.

Nearly six months after his death, the hockey community honored Johnny in multiple ways at the championship game on Feb. 20.

Johnny Gaudreau’s #13 jersey in the Team USA locker room.Ben Jackson/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty

Ben Jackson/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty

Mike Eruzione, a former Olympic-winning hockey player, served as an honorary captain at the match and sported Johnny’s jersey, emblazoned with the number 13. Tributes also poured in on social media from the brothers’ friends and family, the NHL and figures in the sports world like sports reporter Frank Seravalli. Both Meredith and Katie posted multiple pages to their Instagram stories of the crowds in the stands chanting “Johnny Hockey!”

Eruzione acknowledges fans at the championship game.Ben Jackson/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty

“So glad I made the trip to cheer on this incredible group and organization,” Meredithwrote on Instagramin response to the tributes. “Thank you for honoring Johnny in so many ways.”

source: people.com