Johnny Gaudreau's wife Meredith pays tribute to her late husband on their 3rd wedding anniversary

SALEM COUNTY, NEW JERSEY: Meredith Gaudreau, wife of late National Hockey League star Johnny Gaudreau, marked what would have been their third wedding anniversary on Wednesday, September 4.

Johnny, who played 11 seasons in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Calgary Flames, was killed in a devastating accident on Thursday, August 29, night along with his brother Matthew Gaudreau.

How did Meredith Gaudreau honor Johnny on their anniversary?

Johnny Gaudreau and Meredith, who married on September 4, 2021, shared two young children: daughter Noa, who turns two in October, and son Johnny, who is seven months old.

Meredith took to Instagram to honor her late husband with a heartfelt post, reflecting on their life together. She also posted a series of photos from their wedding day and memories of their relationship on Instagram.

"3 years ago today I became yours forever. One of the best days of my life, including the night we got engaged and the days we brought our babies into the world," she captioned the post.

Meredith included several photos from their wedding ceremony, as well as moments from their honeymoon and other significant events in their life together.

She also reflected on the moment she knew she would marry Johnny. "The day I met you I remember saying to myself, omg I’m going to marry him. And every day after that kept getting better and better. I love you forever John and I am so proud to be your wife," Meredith wrote, expressing her deep love and pride in her late husband.

How were Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew killed?

Johnny Gaudreau tragically lost his life alongside his brother Matthew Gaudreau when an alleged drunk driver crashed into them while they were riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.

The brothers were in town to serve as groomsmen for their sister Katie’s wedding, which was set to take place the day after the accident. Johnny was 31 years old, and Matthew was 29.

According to New Jersey State Police, the driver, Sean M Higgins, was arrested and charged with two counts of death by auto, as reported by ABC News.

Police believe Higgins was under the influence of alcohol when he attempted to pass another vehicle and fatally struck the Gaudreau siblings. Higgins is currently being held in custody without bond, according to jail records.

Matthew Gaudreau and wife, Madeline, were expecting their first child

Matthew Gaudreau and his wife, Madeline, were expecting their first child, a son already named Tripp, later this year.

As of Wednesday morning, donations for Madeline and the unborn baby had reached nearly $600,000 on a GoFundMe page set up to support the family.

In the days following Matthew's death, Meredith has made several tribute posts on Instagram, remembering both the brothers and sharing her grief.

In her first post after his death, Meredith wrote, "Thank you for the best years of my life. 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," she added.