Johnny Gaudreau’s wife, Meredith Gaudreau, welcomed the couple’s third baby seven months after his untimely death.
“I had our third baby!” Meredith shared via Instagram on Monday, April 7, one week after giving birth. “Another baby boy 
. Carter Michael Gaudreau — same middle name as his daddy. 8lb 3 ounces, 20.5 inches — exact same as his daddy. He looks exactly like his daddy too 
.”
She added, “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.”
Johnny — who played in the National Hockey League for 11 seasons — and his younger brother, Matthew Gaudreau, were killed in August 2024 when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver while biking near their New Jersey hometown. Johnny was 31, and Matthew was 29.
Meredith announced during a memorial service for the brothers that she was pregnant with her and Johnny’s third baby. (The couple, who married in September 2021, previously welcomed daughter Noa in September 2022 and son Johnny in February 2024.)
“We’re actually a family of five,” Meredith said during a eulogy for Johnny. “I’m in my ninth week of pregnancy with our third baby. A total surprise, but again, John was beaming and so excited.”
She continued, “I was so nervous because this was, again, a total surprise. But his reaction was just immediately kissing me and hugging me even though I was driving the car. After the initial excitement sank in, every time he looked at me, he would say, ‘You’re nuts, you know that? Three kids?’”
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Despite her heartbreak over his death, Meredith reflected on growing her and Johnny’s family with gratitude. “Noa, our oldest, hasn’t even turned two yet,” she said. “In less than three years of marriage, we’ve created a family of five. It doesn’t even sound possible. But I look at it as the ultimate blessing. How lucky am I to be the mother of John’s three babies? Our last one being a blessing and so special, despite these difficult circumstances.”
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She added, “To my babies, Daddy loves you all so much and you have the best daddy in the world.”
Days after Johnny’s death, Meredith broke her silence on the tragedy. “Thank you for the best years of my life,” she wrote via Instagram in August 2024. “Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours. I love you so so much. You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much forever and ever.”
In a follow-up post, Meredith applauded Johnny’s skills as a father. “The absolute best dad in the world. So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with,” she gushed. “John never missed a single appointment. Was the best at putting the baby to sleep and the apple of Noa’s eye. I love how much she looks like him. We are going to make you proud. We love you so so so much Daddy.”
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Meredith also promised to support her sister-in-law Madeline Gaudreau, who was pregnant with her and Matthew’s first baby, son Tripp, at the time of the siblings’ deaths.
“Matty, thank you for loving our babies like your own and for being such an amazing uncle and godfather. I can’t wait to return the honor when I become Tripp’s aunt,” she wrote via Instagram in August 2024. “Please continue to take care of John like you always have. I got Madeline and Tripp 
We love you very much.”
