The Gaudreau family leaned on each other during the first holiday season since the tragic deaths of brothers Johnny and Matthew in August.
Katie Gaudreau, the youngest sister of Johnny and Matthew, shared a photo of her parents, Guy and Jane, visiting with Johnny’s children on Christmas Day.
“John is happy mom and dad stopped to give the babies and Mer some lovin,” Katie, 26, shared via Instagram Story on Wednesday, December 25. “The best mom-mom and pop-pop.”
Johnny, a star with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, shared daughter Noa, now 2, and son Johnny, now 20 months, with his wife, Meredith Gaudreau. At a memorial service for the brothers in September, Meredith revealed she was in her ninth week of pregnancy with the couple’s third baby.
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On August 29, the day before Katie was supposed to get married, Johnny and Mathew were struck and killed by a drunk driver, Sean M. Higgins, while riding bicycles together in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. Johnny was 31 years old, Matthew was 29.
Matthew’s wife, Madeline Gaudreau, celebrated the Christmas holiday with a newborn on the way. Madeline is currently pregnant with the couple’s first baby, a boy to be named Tripp.
“Tripp is all set to hit the ice,” Madeline posted via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, sharing a picture of a youth hockey helmet that had been gifted to her son.
Johnny and Matthew’s mother, Jane, shared a carousel of Christmas photos from over the years via Instagram on Wednesday.
“Our 2024 Christmas family photo in front of the Christmas tree will be this beautiful Christmas ornament we received,” Jane wrote, sharing a photo of an ornament featuring a picture of the family from Johnny and Meredith’s wedding in September 2021. “Remembering all the wonderful Christmas Eves our family has spent together 
”
Christmas came just weeks after Matthew should have celebrated his 30th birthday.
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“Happy 30th Birthday my dear Matty!” Jane wrote via Instagram on December 5. “I miss you every single minute of every day. You were such an amazing son, brother, husband, brother-in-law, uncle, friend, and dog Dad! I know you would have been an amazing Daddy to Tripp. I promise to love Tripp as much as I love you and tell him all the wonderful stories about you.”
Jane concluded, “I know John did something special for you today! Love you forever!”
Shortly before Christmas, Johnny and Matthew were honored with a pre-game ceremony before the Saturday, December 21, game between the Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.
A ceremonial puck drop was held, which featured on-ice appearances from Guy, Jane, Katie, Meredith, Noa and baby Johnny.
Members of the Flyers arrived at the game wearing the jerseys of Gloucester Catholic High School, the high school team Johnny and Matthew played for, which is roughly a 10-minute drive from the Flyers arena.
