Madeline Gaudreau, whose husband Matthew was killed by an alleged drunk driver alongside his NHL star brother Johnny Gaudreau on Thursday, is pregnant.
The couple’s first child – Little Tripp — in due in December, Madeline’s sister wrote in a heartbreaking GoFundMe post.
“In this unimaginably difficult time, we are coming together to support Matthew’s wife, Madeline and their growing baby Tripp, and help alleviate some of the financial burdens they now face,” the fundraiser read.
The fundraiser smashed its $30,000 goal — raising over $100,000 within the first three hours of its creation.
Matthew, 29, and Johnny, 31, were biking in their New Jersey hometown the night before their sister’s wedding when they were struck and killed by a motorist.
The driver, Sean Higgins, reportedly attempted to pass an SUV in front of him, which had moved into the middle of the roadway to give the brothers plenty of room, just after 8 p.m.
Higgins tried to pass the SUV on the right, striking the Gaudreaus from behind.
The accused killer was suspected of being under the influence — he allegedly told a state trooper he had consumed “five to six” beers” before the crash.
He was jailed and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide.
The tragedy struck one day before the Gaudreau brothers were set to take part as groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding to hockey player Devin Joyce in Gloucester City, NJ. The family had even celebrated the wedding rehearsal just hours before the tragedy.
The ceremony was canceled, with the family remembering the brothers as “truly two amazing humans.”
“Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, and brothers-in-law, two nephews, two cousins, two family members, two teammates, two friends but truly two amazing humans,” family spokesperson, Jim Gaudreau, said in a statement Friday.
“We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers. We ask for your continued respect and privacy during this very difficult period of grief,” the statement continued.
Both brothers were hockey players, with Johnny playing for the Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames across 11 seasons in the NHL.
Last season, he appeared in 81 games and tallied 48 points.
He leaves behind his wife, Meredith, and two children Noa, 1, and Johnny, 6 months.
Matthew signed with the New York Islanders’ minor league affiliate in 2017. He last played professional hockey in 2021, playing in Sweden and the ECHL in the US.
Matthew, 29, and Johnny, 31, were biking in their New Jersey hometown the night before their sister’s wedding when they were struck and killed by a motorist.
This is a developing story. Check back for more…
