Four months after his death, the widow of former high school coach Matthew Gaudreau announced the birth of her first child.
Madeleine Gaudreau shared on Instagram on Sunday that she welcomed a baby boy named Tripp Matthew.
Matthew Gaudreau, 29, and his NHL star brother, Johnny Gaudreau, 31, died after being hit by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bicycles on a New Jersey highway in August. The incident occurred hours before they were to be groomsmen at his sister’s wedding near Philadelphia.
At the brothers’ joint funeral in September, Madeleine said her late husband had tears “in his eyes when we first heard Tripp’s heartbeat.”
“Anyone who knows Matty knows he was born to be a father,” he said.
“Matthew was very excited to welcome Tripp into this world and although the plan now looks a little different, I know Matt will be around his son for the rest of his life,” he added.
The brothers were talented hockey athletes and played together at Boston College during the 2013-14 season.
After college, Matthew Gaudreau played professionally for five seasons and returned to Gloucester Catholic High School, his brother’s alma mater in New Jersey, to work as an ice hockey coach in 2022.
Johnny Gaudreau starred in the NHL for 11 seasons with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets before his death.
Earlier this month, a grand jury indicted Sean Higgins, 31, in the deaths of the two brothers. He was charged with two counts of reckless vehicular manslaughter, two counts of aggravated manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence and leaving the scene of a fatal accident, according to charging documents obtained by CNN.
If convicted, Higgins could face up to 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned on January 7, according to CNN affiliate WPVI.
