The way his face lit up in photographs when he was looking at his daughter was really getting to me yesterday. How cruel and random a world we live in, that those kids are going to grow up with no memory of their father, and that Matthew never even got the chance to meet his kid. I’ve got a kid under two and I just keep crying every time I think about it. This death really hit me a lot harder than I expected it to.
GundaniumA
Reading this is fucking heartbreaking. Goddamn
VeryKnies23
I love the second photo. He seemed like such a nice guy
Absolutely devastating. To think that just two weeks after this picture, this family would be robbed of Johnny forever. I’ve also noticed that Johnny and Meredith’s wedding anniversary would have been in a couple of days, on Sept 4th. I hope the family supports each other through this, I can’t even imagine having to deal with something like this
laboufe
Man there has been some gut wrenching posts but this one takes the cake. All because of a drunk driver.
xXxSovietxXx
Made my stomach sink
XPhazeX
It’s so clear what an impact Johnny had on his family.
Meredith would be easily justified in talking about how her family is shattered, but is instead chosing to commit to making Johnny proud.
That’s how a person achieves immortality. Not by achievement but by example.
theguyishere16
Sobbing
PleaseLickMeMarchand
Fuck…
This is so painful and heartbreaking to read through. I can’t imagine the pain she’s in right now. You can how much they meant to each other and how much their kids meant to them. To have this taken away in such a needless way is just so tragic.
May Johnny and Matthew rest in peace.
calliexx12
His smile really lit up the room. And his little girl looks just like him.
Heartbreakingly beautiful words from his wife. “I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours” 💔 So much strength in those words.
There is such an underlying theme of resounding strength in her words.
Something in her words makes me feel that somehow, some way, their family will be ok.
I am praying so hard for them and for the support system around them that will help support this family.
TheCarrier89
Christ. I just can’t imagine what that family is going through right now. I’ve been torn up about it and I don’t even know them, or cheer for any of the teams he was on. Such an avoidable, senseless tragedy.
Spire2000
I truly don’t know how people who have suffered such tragedy have the strength to get on social media and post about their loss a day or two later. If I lost my wife, I’d be inconsolable for I don’t know how long.
Hutch25
It absolutely kills me that some dickhead who couldn’t put his keys down has made it so moments like in this photo can never be experienced again.
From the bottom of my heart, burn in hell Sean Higgins.
Torpedospacedance
It makes me so happy to read that love.
That said I hope the driver who killed him and his brother is tortured in hell…..
FuzzyGummyBear
I give her all the credit in the world for not only being able to put these words together, but to share them with the public.
I know if I were in her shoes, I would be broken beyond repair.
DecentLurker96
I don’t know how to properly put this, but while some people were shocked that Gaudreau signed with CBJ at the time, I learned that this was mostly a family decision so Meredith could have the best career in her domain.
You can correct me but that’s what I heard on the radio at least. That said, I’m not sure how often this happens in the league.
cptmajormajormajor
Not the most pertinent point but these tribute posts, videos and pictures really hit home how young these guys are. Weddings and parties and road trips, god. The fact that a 30 something year old women is now facing raising two children without their father because of this is so heartbreaking
awaythrow292
I think im moving past denial and sadness now (it’s just to much to see these pictures and videos of him and Matt) im slipping into anger/rage the more I read about thus POS Sean Higgins.
Probably my defense mechanism to not feel destroyed and instead channel anger. So be it.
_cc96
This is just so devastating and it makes it harder to swallow by the fact that if that drunk idiotic POS just called a fucking Uber, Johnny and Matthew would’ve still been able to make it to their sister’s wedding and live out their best lives. Fucking gut-wrenching and sickening.
Don’t fucking drink and drive, and learn how to share the road without being a selfish, aggressive, impatient prick. It’s really not that hard.
TheTonyAndolini
Not only is it difficult to deal with on its own, at some point her oldest will wonder why daddy is not there to hug her anymore.
My fucking god how hard that must be on her.
Canuckticon
Looking at those pictures just emphasizes that we should all remember Johnny as a loving father first, an amazing husband second, and at best a hockey player third.
yosoyboi2
God damn it, this is the straw that broke the camels back. I’ve been devastated the past 36 hours, but seeing this just made me finally break down and cry.
Those poor sweet babies won’t ever get to see their daddy again, and it fucking breaks me. Life is so cruel and unfair.
I can only imagine what Meredith is feeling but she’s putting on the strongest face she can. Johnny would be so proud of her.
That worthless POS who did this needs to rot. He’ll never comprehend how much he stole from these innocent and kind hearted people.
I’m so sorry Meredith, Noa and Johnny Jr. nothing any of us can say will ever bring him back, but I hope that you feel the love from everybody in the hockey world, and take solace in Johnny’s memory and how universally loved he truly was.
xnormajeanx
I’m just bawling over here. To think his kids may not remember him.
RustySheriffsBadge1
He and his brothers death hit me. It’s not because they’re hockey players, it’s due to the senselessness of their deaths and that they’re in the same spot in life as I am.
I was once young and reckless but the moment I started a family. I began to go to the doctor whenever I got sick and got in shape. I want to be here for my kids the longest I can. One of my irrational fears is not watching them grow up.
Seeing these pictures of children close in age to mine and knowing that they will never have playtime with their dad, Dad cuddles ,or daddy breakfast 🥞. It breaks my heart.
01000101010110
I haven’t been able to get this entire situation out of my head for the better part of 36 hours now.
It’s just unfathomable how bleak and unfair their lives have become after living what most people would consider a dream. And by all accounts, they were salt of the earth people who genuinely cared about their community.
I wouldn’t wish this situation on my worst enemy. It’s impossibly evil.
iamwilliamwit
I was handling her words pretty well until the “We will make you proud” line. I have no words other than to say stop fucking drinking and driving. Fucking stop. Today. Now.
Wrath_Of_Aguirre
I know we can all only speculate as to how our favorite athletes are when they’re at home, but ever since the beginning he has felt like a genuine human being. And you can tell behind closed doors, at the end of the day, this is what it was all about for him. Chasing a Stanley Cup, gold medals, individual awards, all of those were his ambitions, but not his dreams. He achieved his dream with his family, and it couldn’t have been made any more obvious.
Johnny Hockey is certainly a name that isn’t going to be forgotten so long as this sport exists.
CabbageStockExchange
I can’t do this. I’ve been emotional about this. Life is so fragile man. All it takes is one moment and one stupid idiot to end it. Fuck
PilotNo312
His daughter is his twin and has his same gigantic smile. To think his brother’s child won’t even have a picture like this to hold on to.
AnalBees2
“I love how much she looks like him” goddamn man 🙁
Thumper86
Awww. His daughter has the same smile as him. 🥺
Hue_Honey
Drinking and Driving will cost the fathers of:
2 children of one victim
1 unborn child of another victim
2 children of the perpetrator
5 children will be indelibly effected by the actions of one individual on one night. Always be your best for all those around you.
LunchBoxMercenary
I know there’s no bright side to any of this, but it’s nice knowing that the dickhead that did this made the national news in two countries after not facing the consequences the first time
Haiku-On-My-Tatas
Two things have been very clear about Johnny off the ice since day one in the spotlight:
1. He LOVES kids. You can see it in his face and the way he interacts with kids. Any kids.
2. He’s a family guy through and through.
He was a dude who was meant to be a Dad.
Guilty_Explanation29
My heart goes out to their family. His poor 6 month old son and two year old daughter, his brothers wife who is expecting their 1st child, his mom,dad,sister, and all of his family. R.I.P. to a great player❤️
I hope the driver goes to jail for life.
Families were torn apart because of him
PhilipRiversCuomo
Don’t drink and drive guys. Call the fuckin Uber, in this day and age there’s zero excuse.
41 Comments
Oh man
Yeah imma cry now.
The way his face lit up in photographs when he was looking at his daughter was really getting to me yesterday. How cruel and random a world we live in, that those kids are going to grow up with no memory of their father, and that Matthew never even got the chance to meet his kid. I’ve got a kid under two and I just keep crying every time I think about it. This death really hit me a lot harder than I expected it to.
Reading this is fucking heartbreaking. Goddamn
I love the second photo. He seemed like such a nice guy
[link to the posts on her profile with additional pictures](https://www.instagram.com/p/C_VOITPxjt3/?igsh=MWZuYjgwZnA0N2p0dQ==)
Absolutely devastating. To think that just two weeks after this picture, this family would be robbed of Johnny forever. I’ve also noticed that Johnny and Meredith’s wedding anniversary would have been in a couple of days, on Sept 4th. I hope the family supports each other through this, I can’t even imagine having to deal with something like this
Man there has been some gut wrenching posts but this one takes the cake. All because of a drunk driver.
Made my stomach sink
It’s so clear what an impact Johnny had on his family.
Meredith would be easily justified in talking about how her family is shattered, but is instead chosing to commit to making Johnny proud.
That’s how a person achieves immortality. Not by achievement but by example.
Sobbing
Fuck…
This is so painful and heartbreaking to read through. I can’t imagine the pain she’s in right now. You can how much they meant to each other and how much their kids meant to them. To have this taken away in such a needless way is just so tragic.
May Johnny and Matthew rest in peace.
His smile really lit up the room. And his little girl looks just like him.
Heartbreakingly beautiful words from his wife. “I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours” 💔 So much strength in those words.
They will absolutely be making him proud.
https://preview.redd.it/vctt90xf11md1.png?width=1169&format=png&auto=webp&s=723db5124cab640414051ce6b176b0894d382385
God damnit dude this picture
There is such an underlying theme of resounding strength in her words.
Something in her words makes me feel that somehow, some way, their family will be ok.
I am praying so hard for them and for the support system around them that will help support this family.
Christ. I just can’t imagine what that family is going through right now. I’ve been torn up about it and I don’t even know them, or cheer for any of the teams he was on. Such an avoidable, senseless tragedy.
I truly don’t know how people who have suffered such tragedy have the strength to get on social media and post about their loss a day or two later. If I lost my wife, I’d be inconsolable for I don’t know how long.
It absolutely kills me that some dickhead who couldn’t put his keys down has made it so moments like in this photo can never be experienced again.
From the bottom of my heart, burn in hell Sean Higgins.
It makes me so happy to read that love.
That said I hope the driver who killed him and his brother is tortured in hell…..
I give her all the credit in the world for not only being able to put these words together, but to share them with the public.
I know if I were in her shoes, I would be broken beyond repair.
I don’t know how to properly put this, but while some people were shocked that Gaudreau signed with CBJ at the time, I learned that this was mostly a family decision so Meredith could have the best career in her domain.
You can correct me but that’s what I heard on the radio at least. That said, I’m not sure how often this happens in the league.
Not the most pertinent point but these tribute posts, videos and pictures really hit home how young these guys are. Weddings and parties and road trips, god. The fact that a 30 something year old women is now facing raising two children without their father because of this is so heartbreaking
I think im moving past denial and sadness now (it’s just to much to see these pictures and videos of him and Matt) im slipping into anger/rage the more I read about thus POS Sean Higgins.
Probably my defense mechanism to not feel destroyed and instead channel anger. So be it.
This is just so devastating and it makes it harder to swallow by the fact that if that drunk idiotic POS just called a fucking Uber, Johnny and Matthew would’ve still been able to make it to their sister’s wedding and live out their best lives. Fucking gut-wrenching and sickening.
Don’t fucking drink and drive, and learn how to share the road without being a selfish, aggressive, impatient prick. It’s really not that hard.
Not only is it difficult to deal with on its own, at some point her oldest will wonder why daddy is not there to hug her anymore.
My fucking god how hard that must be on her.
Looking at those pictures just emphasizes that we should all remember Johnny as a loving father first, an amazing husband second, and at best a hockey player third.
God damn it, this is the straw that broke the camels back. I’ve been devastated the past 36 hours, but seeing this just made me finally break down and cry.
Those poor sweet babies won’t ever get to see their daddy again, and it fucking breaks me. Life is so cruel and unfair.
I can only imagine what Meredith is feeling but she’s putting on the strongest face she can. Johnny would be so proud of her.
That worthless POS who did this needs to rot. He’ll never comprehend how much he stole from these innocent and kind hearted people.
I’m so sorry Meredith, Noa and Johnny Jr. nothing any of us can say will ever bring him back, but I hope that you feel the love from everybody in the hockey world, and take solace in Johnny’s memory and how universally loved he truly was.
I’m just bawling over here. To think his kids may not remember him.
He and his brothers death hit me. It’s not because they’re hockey players, it’s due to the senselessness of their deaths and that they’re in the same spot in life as I am.
I was once young and reckless but the moment I started a family. I began to go to the doctor whenever I got sick and got in shape. I want to be here for my kids the longest I can. One of my irrational fears is not watching them grow up.
Seeing these pictures of children close in age to mine and knowing that they will never have playtime with their dad, Dad cuddles ,or daddy breakfast 🥞. It breaks my heart.
I haven’t been able to get this entire situation out of my head for the better part of 36 hours now.
It’s just unfathomable how bleak and unfair their lives have become after living what most people would consider a dream. And by all accounts, they were salt of the earth people who genuinely cared about their community.
I wouldn’t wish this situation on my worst enemy. It’s impossibly evil.
I was handling her words pretty well until the “We will make you proud” line. I have no words other than to say stop fucking drinking and driving. Fucking stop. Today. Now.
I know we can all only speculate as to how our favorite athletes are when they’re at home, but ever since the beginning he has felt like a genuine human being. And you can tell behind closed doors, at the end of the day, this is what it was all about for him. Chasing a Stanley Cup, gold medals, individual awards, all of those were his ambitions, but not his dreams. He achieved his dream with his family, and it couldn’t have been made any more obvious.
Johnny Hockey is certainly a name that isn’t going to be forgotten so long as this sport exists.
I can’t do this. I’ve been emotional about this. Life is so fragile man. All it takes is one moment and one stupid idiot to end it. Fuck
His daughter is his twin and has his same gigantic smile. To think his brother’s child won’t even have a picture like this to hold on to.
“I love how much she looks like him” goddamn man 🙁
Awww. His daughter has the same smile as him. 🥺
Drinking and Driving will cost the fathers of:
2 children of one victim
1 unborn child of another victim
2 children of the perpetrator
5 children will be indelibly effected by the actions of one individual on one night. Always be your best for all those around you.
I know there’s no bright side to any of this, but it’s nice knowing that the dickhead that did this made the national news in two countries after not facing the consequences the first time
Two things have been very clear about Johnny off the ice since day one in the spotlight:
1. He LOVES kids. You can see it in his face and the way he interacts with kids. Any kids.
2. He’s a family guy through and through.
He was a dude who was meant to be a Dad.
My heart goes out to their family. His poor 6 month old son and two year old daughter, his brothers wife who is expecting their 1st child, his mom,dad,sister, and all of his family. R.I.P. to a great player❤️
I hope the driver goes to jail for life.
Families were torn apart because of him
Don’t drink and drive guys. Call the fuckin Uber, in this day and age there’s zero excuse.