The widows of hockey players Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau shared their heartache in a poignant interview nearly a year after their husbands were tragically killed by suspected drunk drivers in New Jersey.
In a conversation with ABC News, Madeline Gaudreau, Matthew’s wife, and Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny’s widow, reflected on their last messages to each other during a funeral that took place last September in Pennsylvania.
“Our kids didn’t deserve this,” Meredith said through tears. “John and Matty didn’t either—especially not in this way. There’s no healing when you can’t say goodbye. It lingers with me at night.”
Meredith shared that she has vowed to care for her daughter Noah, who is two, and son Johnny Carter, born in April 2025.
“I thanked him for everything,” she reminisced.
Meredith had expressed her hope for a third child in her brother-in-law’s eulogy last September.
Carter was born on April 1, just seven months after the tragic loss of the brothers.
“There’s no healing when you don’t get goodbye,” Madeline added, echoing Meredith’s sentiments.
Madeline was pregnant during the loss of her first child, Trip Matthew, and gave birth to her son last December.
“I can’t recall. Maybe I was pregnant then,” Madeline reflected. “Trip would kick a lot, and I brought Matt’s hand to my belly. I didn’t want to say goodbye to them, thinking we’d see him again someday.”
The complete interview will air on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday, which also marks Johnny’s 32nd birthday.
“He said goodbye to all of us. That was the last time I saw him in my parents’ driveway,” Meredith said, recalling their final moments before his passing.
Johnny and Matthew were killed on August 29, 2024, just before their sister Katie’s wedding, when they were cycling in Salem County, New Jersey, and were struck by suspected drunk drivers.
Johnny was 31, and Matthew was 28.
The driver, Sean Higgins, was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated manslaughter and leaving the scene of the accident.
Katie decided to cancel her original wedding after the incident and recently married her high school girlfriend, Devin Joyce, at the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia.
In March, Meredith and Madeline founded the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, aiming to promote ice hockey opportunities for youth and assisting families affected by drunk driving tragedies.
Their vision for this foundation emerged even while they were at the funeral home.
