Johnny Gaudreau's widow reveals pregnancy with third baby at emotional memorial service

Johnny Gaudreau's widow revealed her pregnancy with their third child during a memorial service for the NHL player.

A joint memorial service was held on Monday for late Columbus Blue Jackets player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau, following their tragic deaths in a bicycle accident in New Jersey. Both brothers were struck by a suspected drunk driver on August 29, just hours before they were set to serve as groomsmen at their sister’s wedding. The memorial, held at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, PA, was attended by several NHL players, including Sean Monahan, Seth Jones, Jack Eichel, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

During the service, Johnny’s widow, Meredith Gaudreau, revealed she is nine weeks pregnant with their third child. “How lucky am I to be the mother of John’s three babies?” she said, calling it the "ultimate blessing" despite the tragic circumstances. Meredith spoke fondly of their time in Columbus, where the couple's two children were born, stating, “The memories we made in Columbus as a growing family are the best years of my life.”

Matthew Gaudreau’s widow, Madeline, also shared her grief, describing the past week as a "nightmare" she couldn’t wake from. Matthew, 29, played professionally for five seasons after his college career, while Johnny, 31, starred in the NHL for 11 seasons.

The service was live-streamed on the Columbus Blue Jackets website for those unable to attend.