There are so many ways to describe Johnny Gaudreau. You can talk about his skill on the ice or his bright personality or the devoted father and husband that he was. Just look at his or his wife, Meredith Gaudreau’s, social media pages—the force of his personality shines through, even through a screen. But 7 months after his untimely death, his passion continues to be cherished, felt, and honored by Meredith.
They were married for 3 years, together for even longer. These were years filled with countless special memories: their engagement, wedding, the birth of their two children, coupled with all the action and intensity of Gaudreau’s hockey career. But in a recent podcast appearance on Never Offside with Julie & Cat, Meredith revealed some of the more mundane but still special memories of her time with her husband.
Any guesses? Well, it’s about a TV show. During a candid conversation on the podcast, where she shared beautiful emotional anecdotes about her late husband, she confessed about their favorite TV show that they loved to watch together. “I mean, this is like so weird. I love watching Deal or No Deal. I love it; it’s like my favorite show in the world. I don’t know why.”
She revealed that’s been hard to get into new TV shows without Gaudreau, but Deal or No Deal provided a welcome alternative. “I think I mean I don’t want to like end on a dark note, but I was like I was having a hard time watching like all the new stuff without John ’cause like that was our thing, and then but we watched Deal or No Deal all the time. I don’t know why, like, we have like this weird streaming television, and there’s, like, a Deal or No Deal channel, and I just watch it, and I’m, like, mesmerized by it. Like, I can’t get enough of it. It is so weird, but I have to be honest; that’s what I’m watching.”
And sometimes grief doesn’t manifest in grand ways; it manifests in the little things. Though it’s heartening to note how Meredith has been finding comfort in a show that the pair used to watch together. But in the same podcast episode, Meredith also spoke of a decision made by her husband that continues to benefit the young family.
Johnny Gaudreau has given his family the gift of community
Johnny Gaudreau could not have known the great impact that his decision to move house would have for his wife and children. It was a decision that he arrived at on his own to move the family closer to the other players’ families so his wife would have some support during the long days NHL players spend away from home on the road.
Talking about this decision, Meredith said, “We’re like this weird team that we all live in one neighborhood like it’s just boom boom boom, like teammate after teammate, and I’m so thankful for that now, obviously, but we have such a good group.” It really has been a huge boon for the family, as Meredith and the children now have a support system within walking distance who are always around.
She revealed that it has turned into one big network of aunts and uncles, with her children even calling their father’s best friend, Sean Monahan, “Uncle Sean.” For example, Monahan and the Gaudreau kids have even been having regular playdates!
Similarly, Meredith added that Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner was now Uncle Boone to the kids. “Noa [Gaudreau] this morning like sees out our window like their driveway, and she’s like, ‘I see Uncle Boone.’” In fact, Jenner had recently gone the extra mile by dressing up as Donald Duck for the entirety of baby Johnny Gaudreau’s first birthday party too.
So, through all the tough times that Johnny Gaudreau’s family has been through after his untimely demise, the hockey families have been there beside Meredith and the children, providing the support, care, and love that they needed. It shows how tight-knit the NHL world is, and it shows the importance of community in difficult times.
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