Katie Gaudreau Breaks Silence After Brothers Johnny and Matthew Are Killed On Eve Of Her Wedding
Katie Gaudreau shared a moving tribute in honor of her brothers, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were both killed in a suspected drunken driving crash last week.
In an Instagram post Monday, Katie Gaudreau shared a slideshow of photos of various family moments over the years, writing that there were “no words” to express the bond among her family members.
“The entire world knows there would never have been a John without Matty or Matty without John,” she wrote about her hockey player brothers. “The absolute best big brothers a little girl could have asked for. This will never be a goodbye post because I will never stop saying your names and honoring you both.”
“I’ll take the best care of mom, dad, Kristen, Mer, Madeline, and your babies,” she continued.
NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, who also played hockey professionally, were riding bicycles in Oldsmans Township, New Jersey, on Thursday when a driver believed to be under the influence of alcohol struck them from behind while attempting to pass other vehicles, New Jersey State Police said.
The driver, Sean Higgins, was charged with two counts of death by automobile along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle, police said.
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were set to serve as groomsmen in their sister’s wedding scheduled for the following day, The Associated Press reported.
The eldest Gaudreau sibling, Kristen, was also set to be in the wedding party as maid of honor. The wedding was canceled, the publication reported.
Katie Gaudreau had shared several posts on her Instagram account celebrating pre-wedding festivities over the past several months.
Johnny Gaudreau, who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, wed Meredith Gaudreau in 2021 and welcomed two children: a nearly 2-year-old daughter, Noa, and a son, Johnny, who was born in February.
Matthew Gaudreau, who last played with the Massachusetts Worcester Railers, married Madeline Gaudreau in 2021. She is pregnant with the couple’s first child, due in December.
On Sunday, Madeline Gaudreau shared a touching message to Meredith Gaudreau in honor of their late spouses.
“To Meredith- we will forever share this extreme heartbreak and terrible bond.. however, the boys couldn’t have picked stronger woman as their wives and mothers of their children,” she wrote. “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,” she continued.