Madeline Gaudreau has solidified her love for her late husband, Matthew Gaudreau, on her skin forever.
“My Boys 
,” Madeline captioned a Saturday, April 13, Instagram photo of her new tattoo.
Madeline got the number “21” tattooed on the back of her forearm, a nod to Matthew’s hockey jersey number. Then, she got “TM “ and “MR” drawn on her wrist. (Matthew’s middle name is Ryan, and the couple’s infant son’s full moniker is Tripp Matthew.)
“I wanted Matty’s initials to be right next to Tripp’s — as his dad will always be right next to him ,” Madeline explained in a follow-up Instagram comment.
Matthew Gaudreau and Wife Madeline Gaudreau’s Relationship Timeline
Matthew died in August 2024 after he and his older brother, NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, were struck and killed by an allegedly drunk driver. Johnny was 31. The siblings are survived by their parents, their two sisters and their respective wives and children. Johnny and wife Meredith Gaudreau shared daughter Noa and sons Johnny and Carter.
Madeline, for her part, gave birth to Tripp in December 2024 — four months after Matthew’s death.
“This last week has felt like I’ve been trapped in a nightmare I can’t wake up from,” Madeline said during her husband’s funeral in September 2024. “I feel numb, angry, sad, blessed all at once. Some days, the thought of this new reality is debilitating, but mostly I just miss Matt.”
How Madeline Gaudreau Honors Late Husband Matthew in Their Son’s Nursery
She added, “Matt will surround his son for the rest of his life. I’m so thankful God gave us a child, a little Matty, to run around for life, to carry on his legacy. Tripp will know how much his father loved him, and I promise to do all the things with him we talked about.”
Both Madeline and Meredith, who gave birth to Carter earlier this month, have been candid about memorializing their spouses’ legacies. They also launched an eponymous foundation in March to “make a positive impact” on the hockey world in the wake of their spouses’ deaths.
