Two years after the death of Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau, his wife, Meredith, is reflecting on their relationship − and how she is keeping his memory alive for their three children in a People Magazine exclusive.
In a recent interview with People, Meredith opened up about meeting Johnny and the early days of their relationship, including the summers they spent in Avalon, New Jersey.
"I grew up coming to Avalon. This is where I met John. This is where we got engaged," Meredith said in a video shared by People on Instagram.
She said Johnny was quiet and humble but had a personality that made people want to be around him.
"I was commuting
here to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. I was working, and we tried to line up our time down here together," she said.
Meredith was working night shifts at the time, so the couple would spend their days together at the beach. As they continued seeing each other, she said, "it fell into place."
The couple married in 2021 and went on to have three children: Noa, Johnny and Carter.
Keeping Johnny's memory alive
In the full People interview published Aug. 27, Meredith said she intentionally keeps photographs and reminders of Johnny throughout the family's Avalon home.
She said she wants their children to grow up knowing their father and remembering what he was like outside of hockey.
Meredith also told People that she and her sister-in-law, Madeline Gaudreau, launched the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation in honor of Johnny and his younger brother. The foundation supports youth hockey and families affected by drunken driving.
Who was Johnny Gaudreau?
Gaudreau, known as "Johnny Hockey," was an NHL star who spent nine seasons with the Calgary Flames before signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022.
He played 763 regular-season NHL games, recording 243 goals and 500 assists.
For Meredith, though, he was not just a hockey star.
“He was someone you wanted to be around,” she said.
How did Johnny Gaudreau die?
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his younger brother Matthew, 29, were killed Aug. 29, 2024, while riding bicycles in their New Jersey hometown. They were hit by a vehicle the night before their sister Katie's wedding.
Meredith was about seven weeks pregnant with the couple's third child when Johnny died. Their son Carter was born in April 2025.
Two years later, Meredith continues to raise their three children while finding ways to make sure Johnny remains part of their everyday lives.
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Meredith Gaudreau reflects on love story with Johnny in People Magazine
