Two years after the deaths of brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, their family is still rebuilding as they welcome new babies, launch a foundation and continue to remember the siblings’ legacies.
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Johnny, a forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and younger brother Matthew were killed in August 2024 when an alleged drunk driver struck them while they rode bikes in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. They were 31 and 29, respectively.
“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 human beings,” the familywrote in a statement at the time. “We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers.”
Keep scrolling to see how the Gaudreau family has found purpose after Johnny and Matthew’s tragic deaths:
Both of the brothers’ widows welcomed children in the months after their husbands’ deaths.
Meredith Gaudreau, who married Johnny in September 2021, was pregnant with the couple’s third baby when the pro athlete died. She announced her pregnancy during a eulogy at his memorial service.
“We’re actually a family of five,” Meredith said. “I’m in my ninth week of pregnancy with our third baby. A total surprise, but again, John was beaming and so excited.”
She gave birth to son Carter Michael Gaudreau in April 2025, seven months after Johnny’s death.
“Carter Michael Gaudreau – same middle name as his daddy. 8lb 3 ounces, 20.5 inches – exact same as his daddy. He looks exactly like his daddy too,” Meredithwrote on Instagram. “I love you so much my baby! We are going to have so much fun. I can’t wait to give you the best life, my special boy forever.”
Meredith and Jonny also shared daughter Noa, born September 2022, and son Johnny Jr., born February 2024.
Madeline Gaudreau, for her part, married Matthew in 2021. She was also pregnant with the couple’s first baby at the time of his death. Madeline gave birth to son Tripp just four months after Matthew died.
The brothers’ parents, Guy and Jane Gaudreau, were admitted to the hospital the same day their sons died. Guy was reportedly placed under observation for elevated blood pressure and heart rate, while Jane’s family said she was unresponsive and entered a “catatonic-like state” after learning about her sons’ deaths.
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Jane told Us Weekly in April 2026 that, in the weeks afterward,the family struggled with the most basic tasks. “We could barely get out of bed in the morning and take a shower,” she said.
Katie Gaudreau, Johnny and Matthew’s youngest sister, married Devin Joyce on July 11, 2025, nearly a year after the tragedy postponed her original ceremony. She has spoken openly about how deeply the deaths reshaped their family.
“We didn’t just lose the boys that night. We lost the boys and my parents. Losing a child is something that nobody should ever have to go through,” Katie told Us in April 2026.“This is a tragedy that I would never wish on my worst enemy. Because of the support that we’ve gotten from everybody – not just in the United States and North America, but the people in different countries who have reached out – telling stories about the boys and the impact they’ve made, it really helped us to heal and to continue to heal.”
Katie and Joyce welcomed their first baby in June 2026, a son named Matthew in honor of her late brother.
The Gaudreau Family Foundation Finds Its Purpose
A Gaudreau family friend suggested organizing a 5K race to honor the brothers, even offering to organize the event. The inaugural event was held in May 2025 and raised over $500,000 to build an accessible playground at the special education school where Jane and her oldest daughter, Kristen, worked.
“I don’t think people throughout the hockey world – throughout South Jersey to Columbus to Calgary – I don’t think they realize how much they did for us,” Jane told Us in 2026.
The second annual race benefited the newly established Gaudreau Family Foundation, which was created to honor the brothers’ legacies.
Meredith and Johnny’s parents were present at the2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, to support Team USA in the men’s hockey semifinal against Slovakia in February 2026. Team USA won and advanced to the gold medal game against Canada on February 22, which the Gaudreaus also attended. Meredith’s two kids were even invited onto the ice to take a picture with the team after Team USA won the gold medal.
Johnny, for his part, had been considered a favorite for the 2026 Olympic team before his death.
“You should be here, John, and I’m so sorry you aren’t,” Meredith wrote on Instagram Stories at the time. “So proud of you and your legacy.”
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This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
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This story was originally published June 24, 2026 at 1:05 PM.