Johnny Gaudreau’s wife Meredith has shared a heartbreaking tribute to the late NHL star on their three-year wedding anniversary.
Gaudreau, 31, and his 29-year-old brother Matthew, died last Thursday after being struck by a vehicle while out cycling in New Jersey the night before their sister Katie’s wedding.
And three years on from the day that Johnny and Meredith exchanged vows, the latter penned an emotional message to him on her Instagram page.
‘I never post this much but John deserves it. 3 years ago today I became yours forever,’ Meredith began.
‘One of the best days of my life, including the night we got engaged and the days we brought our babies into the world. The day I met you I remember saying to myself, omg I’m going to marry him. And every day after that kept getting better and better. I love you forever John and I am so proud to be your wife.’
The driver who killed Johnny and Matthew, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins of Woodstown, has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide with no bail or bond and is alleged to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
In documents seen by DailyMail.com, alleged drunk-driver Higgins admitted to cops that he drank ‘5-6 beers’ before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and crashing into the Gaudreau brothers.
The crash happened less than three miles from the Gaudreau family home, hours before Katie was due to marry partner Devin Joyce.
Meredith had previously written on social media: ‘Thank you for the best years of my life. Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours. I love you so so much.
‘You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much forever and ever.’
A GoFundMe has been set up for Matthew Gaudreau’s wife Madeline to help support her and her growing child, Tripp.
The fund’s goal of $30,000 has been blown past to over $590,000 raised as of the time of publication.
There was also a moving turnout of thousands of grieving fans to Scotiabank Saddledome, the arena where the Calgary Flames – Gaudreau’s former team – plays.
Supporters wrote messages in honor of Gaudreau in chalk, with the team sharing an incredible aerial view of the mass of fans.
Gaudreau spent the first nine of his 11 NHL seasons with the Flames before spending two years with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Matthew was a professional hockey player in the ECHL.
