Matthew Gaudreau’s grieving widow described the “pain” of losing the dad-to-be in a heart-wrenching post after he was killed last week alongside his brother, NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, by an alleged drunk driver — and promised her late husband that she will “keep going” for their baby.
Madeline Gaudreau, who is expecting the couple’s first child, Tripp, in December, wrote that she had “never experienced a pain” like the loss of her 29-year-old husband, who was mowed down while riding bikes with his brother, a Columbus Blue Jackers player, in Oldmans Township, New Jersey on Thursday night.
“I am so blessed you chose me to be your wife… to love me. you are the best thing about me,” she wrote alongside pictures of her embracing her husband on Saturday.
“I know you are watching down in just as much pain as I am looking up. I will keep going for you and our son. I love you so much, Matthew,” she continued.
In another post, she shared photos of them hand-in-hand and declared that their relationship was the “best 14 years of my life.”
“I will cherish those years and you for the rest of my life.”
Madeline also shared photos of Matthew with his older brother, Johnny, 31, and paid tribute to their close relationship.
“It was always Matty & John. I can’t even put into words the bond these two had and right now I don’t have the strength. They were each other’s biggest cheerleaders.” Madeline said.
She then addressed Johnny’s widow, Meredith, writing, “We will forever share this extreme heartbreak and terrible bond.”
“However, the boys couldn’t have picked stronger women as their wives and mothers of their children,” she continued.
“We will carry each other through every season .. as the boys would do for each other. They blessed us with children.. through them we will always have a part of them earth side with us forever.”
Madeline has also replied to many similar posts from Johnny’s wife Meredith to offer her support as they navigate their grief.
“John and Matty. You don’t hear one name without the other. Always side by side,” Meredith wrote on Instagram, to which Madeline replied, “I love this. Matty adored John just the same. I got you, Noa, and Johnny.”
The brothers were riding their bikes on County Road 51 in Oldmans Township, NJ on Thursday night when they were struck by Sean Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, according to police.
The trooper who arrived at the scene detected a “strong odor of alcohol,” according to the police affidavit.
Higgins allegedly told the trooper that he had “five to six beers” before the fatal crash.
Higgins, a financial officer at the Gaudenzia Addiction Treatment and Recovery Centers, was charged with two counts of death by auto in connection with the devastating crash.
The Gaudreaus were killed less than 24 hours before they were supposed to serve as groomsmen in the Friday afternoon wedding of their younger sister, Katie, to hockey player Devin Joyce.
Katie’s wedding ceremony in Gloucester City has since been canceled in light of the tragedy.
Both brothers were hockey players, with Johnny playing for the Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames across 11 seasons in the NHL.
Last season, Johnny appeared in 81 games and tallied 48 points.
Grieving hockey fans erected a memorial at the site of the tragic accident. A cross crafted from old hockey sticks bearing the names of the brothers and their respective player numbers, Gatorade, and flowers, were left in honor of the siblings.