Nearly one year after Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were killed by a suspected drunk driver — and on what would have been Johnny’s 32nd birthday — the widows of the hockey brothers have announced a foundation in their honour.
Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau have launched the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, which will focus on three main initiatives: boosting youth hockey programs; helping hockey families suffering tragedies; and supporting families affected by drunk driving.
On Aug. 29, 2024, Johnny and Matthew were riding their bikes in their home state of New Jersey the night before their sister’s wedding when they were struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver.
Johnny played eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, becoming a beloved fixture in the city. His death sparked a large outpouring of grief.
His widow Meredith spoke with the Calgary Eyeopener’s Josh Pagé about the new foundation.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: I imagine today’s been a been a day full of emotion. What’s the range been like?
A: Yeah, just getting started here. Woke up with the kids, and it was nice. We just watched a little bit of Mickey Mouse in bed together and making a little birthday cake downstairs now with Noa. It’s actually a little rainy here today, so we’re just going to take it easy and just chill. Regular day.
Q: And there’s a new little one in the family, I guess two, isn’t there?
A: Carter (Meredith’s son) is four months. Tripp (Madeline’s son) was born the day after Christmas, so he’s eight months or so. I mean, definitely keeping busy with these little ones running around.
Q: What has the last year been like for the whole family?
A: It’s been really hard, but we do a good job of focusing on the kids and, you know, just every day is for them. Madeline and I keep our in-laws busy. They help out with the kids a lot.
This last year, it’s hard, but just, one day at a time. We’re there for each other. It’s just all we can really do is just try to focus on the kids and just take it one step at a time.
Q: Can you tell us about the foundation and how it’ll work?
A: Madeline and I are co-presidents for the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation. We wanted to come up with initiatives that really spoke to John and Matty. They always were very aware that hockey is an expensive sport. It was never lost on them how hard their parents worked.
We wanted to make giving back to youth hockey programs one of our main initiatives, and then helping other hockey families that have been in tragedies, and help other families affected by drunk driving. Those are our big three initiatives. We have raised a good bit of money already and I’m just really looking forward to helping a lot of people soon.
Q: When did you start having these conversations, the two of you thinking, hey, this is something we’d like to do?
A: Actually as early as in the funeral home when we were planning all the services. John’s agent, Lewis, he said, “Would you like to start a foundation?” And I just thought, we have a big opportunity here to do a lot of good and so many people want to help.
John’s impact was so far and wide. We took our time getting up and running because you know, it’s been pretty much till today that we’re really ready to go. It’s so much work and we had a lot going on. But it was just those very first days where we thought, we could really pay this forward in their honour, and here we are, ready to.
Q: And you chose today [Wednesday]. How important was it for you to to hit that marker?
A: It just kind of came together. In the beginning, it wasn’t something we were able to focus on yet.
And it’s still a lot of work. It can be draining because every little thing is about John and Matt. We really try to make every little aspect of it for them — so the colours we picked out, the clothes that we picked out, we designed a little merchandise line.
We thought, maybe toward the end of the summer we could be ready to go. And it just kind of fell on this day. But it’s obviously a special day, so trying to make it a good thing.
Q: Can you tell us a little more about the support and the donations coming in?
A: We’ve been able to receive donations for awhile now and then especially this summer. It was actually Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Zach Werenski — they all got married this past July. They all on their wedding website, they said, please in lieu of gifts to give donations to the John and Matty Foundation.
That blew me away. That went a long way with our money we’ve been able to raise. It almost gave me a drive to where I want to really do a good job at this and give back, because that’s extreme generosity.
Q: You will be helping kids get on the ice. What’s it like to know that that legacy will carry on for you?
A: You know, it was hard for John and Matty growing up, too. Your whole family has to dedicate their lives to this.Equipment is expensive. Ice time’s expensive.
We’re just really glad that we think that will be one of our biggest initiatives to give back to hockey youth programs, especially since Matty was coaching youth league. It’s something that spoke to both of them and I think we’re going to be able to do a lot of good.
Q: Meredith, Calgary loves the Gaudreaus, Calgary always will. We appreciate you being with us today.
A: We love Calgary so much. We miss you guys and you guys hold a very special place in our hearts.
