Widows of the Gaudreau brothers express their feelings a year after their untimely demise: "Our children didn't warrant this sorrowful fate"
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In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the hockey community was left in shock following the tragic death of brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau in New Jersey. The brothers were killed by an alleged drunk driver on August 29, 2024, just a day before their sister Katie's wedding.
Johnny, who was 31, and Matthew, 28, were cycling near their parents' house in Salem County, N.J., when they were struck by a suspected intoxicated driver. The driver, identified as Sean Higgins, was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide, evidence tampering, and leaving the scene of an accident.
The tragedy left behind a trail of grief, with Madeline, Matthew's wife, expecting their first child, Tripp Matthew, at the time of his death. Madeline welcomed Carter, their second child, on April 1, seven months after the incident. Meredith, Johnny's wife, promised to take care of their children - daughter Noa, 2, and sons, Johnny, 1, and Carter - during Johnny's funeral.
In the face of this unimaginable loss, Meredith and Madeline found solace in each other and in the memory of their husbands. It was during the funeral that they dreamed up the idea for the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation. The foundation, launched in March, aims to promote and expand youth ice hockey opportunities, help hockey families facing tragedies, and help families affected by drunk driving.
In an upcoming interview with ABC News, scheduled to air during "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, which would have been Johnny's 32nd birthday, Madeline and Meredith open up about their loss, their journey since the tragedy, and their efforts to honour the legacy of their husbands.
Meredith shared that there is no healing when you didn't get a goodbye, and it keeps her up at night. She expressed that their children didn't deserve to lose their fathers in such a way.
Katie, the sister of the brothers, cancelled her original wedding following the tragedy and married her high school sweetheart, Devin Joyce, at The Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia last month.
The legal case against the suspected driver is ongoing, with no further details about the driver's identity being publicly disclosed as of now. The Gaudreau family and the hockey community continue to remember and honour Johnny and Matthew, their lives, and their legacy.
- Amidst the general news of tragedy, the crime-and-justice system is currently reviewing the case of Sean Higgins, the alleged drunk driver responsible for the death of hockey players Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
- In sports-analysis, the profound impact of the unfortunate incident on the hockey community is still being discussed, with a focus on the launch of the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, aimed at youth ice hockey opportunities and supporting families affected by tragedies.
