Four months after the tragic death of former high school coach Matthew Gaudreau, his widow, Madeleine Gaudreau, announced the birth of their first child. The couple welcomed a baby boy named Tripp Matthew, as shared by Madeleine on Instagram.
Matthew Gaudreau, aged 29, and his NHL star brother Johnny Gaudreau, aged 31, lost their lives in a devastating incident where they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bikes on a New Jersey roadway in August. The accident occurred just hours before they were supposed to be groomsmen at their sister's wedding near Philadelphia.
During the joint funeral service for the brothers in September, Madeleine emotionally expressed that Matthew had tears in his eyes upon hearing Tripp's heartbeat for the first time. She described Matthew as someone who was destined to be a father and was eagerly looking forward to welcoming Tripp into the world. Despite the altered circumstances, Madeleine believes that Matthew's presence will always surround their son.
Both brothers were accomplished hockey athletes who played together at Boston College during the 2013-14 season. Following college, Matthew Gaudreau pursued a professional hockey career for five seasons before returning to Gloucester Catholic High School, where he worked as an ice hockey coach in 2022. Johnny Gaudreau, on the other hand, had a successful 11-season career in the NHL with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Recently, a grand jury indicted Sean Higgins, aged 31, in connection with the deaths of the Gaudreau brothers. Higgins faces charges including two counts of reckless vehicular homicide, two counts of aggravated manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. If convicted, Higgins could potentially receive a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. His arraignment is scheduled for January 7.
