She emphasized that despite being John’s younger brother, Johnny looked up to Matty and relied on him for everything. Matty was always there for him. Meredith described Johnny and Matty as absolute best friends who were each other’s biggest supporters, despite their contrasting personalities. She noted that their magnetic presence made everyone want to be around them, including herself. Meredith expressed her gratitude for Matty’s love for their children and his role as an amazing uncle and godfather. She promised to honor their memory by being a supportive aunt to Tripp, Matty’s unborn child, and vowed to care for Matty’s wife, Madeline, and Tripp with all her love. The heartfelt images she shared included Matty’s integral role in Noa’s baptism and the brothers proudly standing as groomsmen at their wedding. Matty and Johnny’s families are devastated by the loss of the two men, who were husbands, fathers, sons, nephews, cousins, brothers, brothers-in-law, and beloved humans to them. They acknowledged the messages of love and support they have received from friends, fans, and teammates and expressed their appreciation for the continued prayers and thoughts.The families asked for continued respect and privacy during this difficult period of grief, finding solace in supporting one another and holding onto their shared memories. As previously reported, details of the tragic news of Johnny and Matty’s death were shared online. The brothers were tragically killed after being struck by a passing car in Oldmans Township around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, August 29, 2024. According to authorities, the brothers were riding bikes on a rural road in New Jersey when the accident occurred. Johnny’s hockey team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, posted a statement on X expressing their devastation and shock at the news. The team’s statement highlighted Johnny’s incredible talent as a player and the profound impact he had on the organization and the sport. They emphasized that Johnny’s legacy extended beyond the ice, as he was a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.The Columbus Blue Jackets mentioned how much Johnny would be missed by the team and their community, ending their message by asking the public to pray for the Gaudreau family as they deal with this unimaginable loss. The team also requested that the family’s privacy be respected during this time. Similarly, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman shared a message about the tragedy, spotlighting Johnny’s incredible legacy as one of the League’s brightest young stars during his impressive 11 seasons in the NHL. Bettman extended heartfelt condolences to Johnny’s wife Meredith, their children Noa and Johnny, his parents Guy and Jane, and his sisters Kristen and Katie. The devastating news of Johnny and Matty’s passing initially emerged through reports that the accident had taken place, though the victims had not yet been identified as the Gaudreau brothers.A report from 6abc Action News revealed that the New Jersey State Police disclosed that the driver involved in the accident had stayed at the scene and was believed to be under the influence.X was flooded with announcements about the accident, including messages from individuals like Elaine Shircliff and Steve Franklin, who shared updates and confirmed that Johnny and Matty were the victims.Retired NHL referee Tim Peel also took to X, asking for prayers for the Gaudreau family and hoping the reports were not true.