Meredith Gaudreau remembers Johnny Gaudreau: 'Thank you for the best years of my life'

Colin Gay, Columbus Dispatch
Updated ·2 min read
Dec 5, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) waves to his wife, Meredith, and daughter, Noa, during warm-ups prior to the NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at Nationwide Arena.

Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny Gaudreau's wife, on Saturday posted a tribute to the Columbus Blue Jackets star who died Thursday night.

Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed after being struck by a suspected drunk driver while bicycling in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.

Meredith Gaudreau posted two statements on her Instagram page of Johnny, herself and their two young children, Noa and Johnny, both of whom were born in Columbus.

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"Thank you for the best years of my life," Meredith Gaudreau wrote. "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."

"The absolute best dad in the world," Meredith Gaudreau continued. "So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with. John never missed a single appointment. Was the best at putting the baby to sleep and the Apple of Noa’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."

After nine seasons with the Calgary Flames, Johnny Gaudreau signed a seven-year, $68.25 million deal with the Blue Jackets as an unrestricted free agent. In two seasons with the Blue Jackets, Gaudreau had 33 goals and 101 assists in 161 games.

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"Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers, two sons and brothers in law, two nephews, two cousins, two family members, two teammates, two friends, but truly two amazing humans," Jim Gaudreau, Johnny and Matthew's uncle, said in a statement Friday.

"We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers. We ask for your continued respect and privacy during this very difficult period of grief."

The statement is signed by the Gaudreau, Morris, Korbitz, Venello and Joyce families.

Get more Columbus Blue Jackets talk on the Cannon Fodder podcast

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Meredith Gaudreau remembers Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau

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