Meredith Gaudreau, the wife of Johnny Gaudreau, paid tribute to her husband on social media two days after his tragic death.
Gaudreau made two posts on her Instagram page, one including Johnny Gaudreau, herself and their two children while another one just featured Johnny Gaudreau and their two children.
“Thank you for the best years of my life,” Meredith Gaudreau wrote in her first post. “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.”
“The absolute best dad in the world,” Gaudreau continued. “So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with. 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.”
Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed last Thursday night while cycling on a rural two-lane road near their home in Salem, N.J., victims of a suspected drunk driver.
Police said 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and has been charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. He was jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility.
Johnny, often referred to as “Johnny Hockey” by fans, played 11 NHL seasons and was set to enter his third with the Blue Jackets after spending the first nine years of his career with the Calgary Flames.
Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were natives of New Jersey and were scheduled to be groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding on Friday in Philadelphia.
“Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers … two friends, but truly two amazing humans,” Jim Gaudreau, uncle to both Johnny and Matthew, said in a statement, per Michael Russo of The Athletic.
“We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages and love and support,” Jim continued. “We appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers. We ask for your continued privacy during this very difficult period of grief.”
— with files from the Associated Press