The Columbus Blue Jackets are showing love to the Gaudreaus.
Late hockey player Johnny Gaudreau’s NHL team got together to celebrate his and widow Meredith Gaudreau’s daughter’s second birthday. In a photo shared by Sarah Gudbranson, who is married to hockey player Erik Gudbranson, the athletes and their families are seen next to a giant lawn sign that reads: “Happy 2nd Birthday Noa!”
“Happy birthday sweet Noa,” Sarah Gudbranson wrote alongside the photo on Sept. 30. “Sending so much love from your Jackets family!”
Johnny Gaudreau left behind now-2-year-old daughter Noa, as well as son Johnny, who was born in February. Meredith Gaudreau is also pregnant with their third child.
Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, were killed by an alleged drunk driver in late August. New Jersey State Police confirmed the brothers were pronounced dead at the scene after they were hit while riding their bikes in their hometown. Johnny and Mathew Gaudreau were set to attend their sister’s wedding the following day, according to NJ Advance Media.
Matthew Gaudreau’s wife, Madeline Gaudreau, is also expecting their first child together.
Ten days before Johnny and Meredith Gaudreau’s daughter’s birthday, Meredith Gaudreau reflected on how difficult the day would be for her.
“I’ve been having a hard time as Noa’s 2nd birthday approaches. She loves watching videos of daddy before bed especially her requests for ‘daddy hockey’ which led me to these videos,” she wrote alongside an interview of the late hockey player talking about his daughter. “She loves watching him play and cheering for him through the screen. His biggest fan. They loved each other so much. She even has the same freckle as him on her right cheek. And as she approaches turning 2, I have been told their personalities are getting to be more and more similar and I can’t wait for that to continue.”
In the clip, the Jackets player described being a father as “awesome,” “It’s crazy how from that one second, how much you can love something.”