Gaudreau’s Wife Pays Tribute to Kevin Hayes, Sean Monahan; ‘Loved You So Much’

Family and friends gathered on Monday to lay Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau to rest. As the hockey world mourned with them, Johnny Gaudreau’s wife Meredith took a few moments during her eulogy to thank Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan and Pittsburgh Penguins center Kevin Hayes.

Gaudreau also announced she is pregnant with their third child.

Johnny Gaudreau played with Monahan for nine seasons with the Calgary Flames but played apart with separate teams over the past two seasons. They were ready to reunite with Columbus this season.

“As close as John was to being one of a kind, I think you are as close as it gets to being just like him. Whatever you did, he copied. If you got a new truck, we were in the truck lot the next day … If you were leaving the party, John was grabbing me to leave, also,” Gaudreau said. “I know John is cringing at me right now, but you made John the most excited for hockey that I’ve ever seen when you signed in Columbus … I’m rooting for you every night on the ice, and I know John is, too, as your special guardian angel.”

Her praise for Gaudreau’s relationship with Hayes was also heartfelt. Gaudreau and Hayes were teammates at Boston College and remained close.

“You and your family were a huge part of John’s upbringing into this crazy NHL life. He looked up to you and loved being around your brothers and sisters. Spending summers at the Hayes’s reminded him of his own family. So I know it’s something he cherished,” she said. “The friendship and bond you have created through any distance was admirable.

“John would always show me the sentimental and hilarious reels on Instagram that you would send him on Instagram about brotherhood because he was so honored by them. You’ve been through so much, and you were never not there for him. You are a great, great person to your core. John loved you so much.”

Hayes tragically lost his brother Jimmy to a drug overdose in 2021. Jimmy Hayes’s final professional team was the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2018-19.

Our thanks to MaherMedia for posting this clip.

A bond cemented in eternity.

Meredith Gaudreau honors her late husband Johnny and delivers heartfelt messages to Kevin Hayes & Sean Monahan.

Rest in Peace, Johnny & Matthew Gaudreau 🤍#CBJ | #JohnnyHockey pic.twitter.com/n40kJYVRaK

— Maher Media (@MaherMediaCo) September 9, 2024