Widow Of Late Hockey Coach Welcomes Baby Boy

newborn baby

Four months after the tragic death of her husband and his NHL star brother, Madeleine Gaudreau, the widow of former high school ice hockey coach Matthew Gaudreau, joyfully announced the birth of their first child. The baby boy, named Tripp Matthew, was welcomed by Madeleine and shared the news on Instagram.

Matthew Gaudreau, 29, and his brother Johnny Gaudreau, 31, lost their lives in August after being struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bikes on a New Jersey roadway. The heartbreaking incident occurred just hours before they were to serve as groomsmen at their sister's wedding near Philadelphia, drawing condolences from the hockey community and beyond.

During the joint funeral service for the brothers in September, Madeleine shared that Matthew had tears in his eyes upon hearing Tripp's heartbeat. She expressed that Matthew was destined to be a father and had been eagerly anticipating Tripp's arrival.

Both brothers were accomplished hockey athletes, having 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 as an ice hockey coach in 2022.

Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau tragically died in a bike accident caused by a suspected drunken driver.

Madeleine Gaudreau joyfully announced the birth of her first child, Tripp Matthew.

Matthew Gaudreau was a former high school ice hockey coach, while Johnny had an 11-season NHL career.

Johnny Gaudreau, on the other hand, enjoyed an 11-season NHL career with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets.

A grand jury recently indicted Sean Higgins, 44, in connection with the brothers' deaths. Higgins faces charges including reckless vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. His defense attorney argued that Higgins' knee surgery may have impacted the results of his field sobriety test, emphasizing that he made a regrettable decision that fateful night.

Salem County Judge Michael Silvanio ordered Higgins to stand trial, citing concerns about his driving behavior and noting his impatience as a contributing factor to the tragic deaths. Higgins is scheduled to be arraigned on January 7 and could potentially face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.