Meredith Gaudreau walks toward the stadium prior to the 2025 NHL Stadium Series at Ohio Stadium between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings in Columbus, Ohio, on March 1, 2025. (Jeff Dean/Getty Images)
Meredith Gaudreau, widow of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, announced the birth of their third child on Monday, seven months after her husband and his brother Matthew were killed in a cycling accident last summer.
According to Meredith's Instagram post, she gave birth to a baby boy named Carter Michael Gaudreau on April 1. The newborn shares the same middle name with his late father and has the "exact same" measurements as Johnny did at birth, weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches.
"He looks exactly like his daddy too," Meredith wrote. "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."
In a tribute to her late husband, she added, "John, thank you for giving me our beautiful family. We love u, Daddy and miss you so much."
The birth of Carter Michael follows the death of the 31-year-old NHL star and his brother Matthew, 29, who were fatally struck by a suspected drunk driver while riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, in late August. The brothers were scheduled to serve as groomsmen at their sister Katie's wedding the following day, which was called off due to the tragedy.
Johnny Gaudreau, nicknamed "Johnny Hockey," had played 10 full seasons in the NHL and was entering his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets after signing a seven-year, $68 million contract in 2022. He previously played eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, establishing himself as a fan favorite and skilled forward.
Johnny Gaudreau #13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets controls the puck during a shootout against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Nov. 12, 2023. Sarah Stier/Getty Images
The driver involved in the accident, Sean M. Higgins, 44, pleaded not guilty in January to charges including aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide. Higgins turned down a prosecution offer of 35 years in prison. Authorities reported his blood-alcohol level was above New Jersey's legal limit at the time of the crash.
In a previous Instagram tribute posted on Aug. 31, Meredith called Johnny "the absolute best dad in the world" and "the best partner to go through parenthood with," noting that he "never missed a single appointment" and "was the best at putting the baby to sleep."
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in an Aug. 30 statement praised Johnny Gaudreau's "infectious spirit" and "show-stopping skills on the ice." The Columbus Blue Jackets organization also remembered him not only for his hockey skills but "more significantly" as "a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend."
The latest addition to the Gaudreau family comes just months after Matthew Gaudreau's widow, Madeline, gave birth to their son, Tripp Matthew, in late December. Madeline shared the news on Instagram, posting a photo of the newborn's hand with the caption "Mommy & Daddy's world."
