Rhianna Benson
The wife of Johnny Gaudreau has welcomed a child seven months after the American ice hockey player died whilst biking with his brother.
Meredith Gaudreau - who already shares two children with the late sportsman - broke the news of her family's new addition on Instagram on Monday (7 Apr).
With a 14 photo carousel, she revealed she'd given birth to a baby boy.
"I had our third baby! 4/1/25. Another baby boy," Meredith wrote in the caption.
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"Carter Michael Gaudreau - same middle name as his daddy. 8lb 3 ounces, 20.5 inches - exact same as his daddy.
"He looks exactly like his daddy too."
She continued: "I love you so much my baby!" she added. "We are going to have so much fun. I can’t wait to give you the best life, my special boy forever."
31-year-old Johnny and his brother Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were both killed in a bicycle accident involving a drunk driver last year, the day before their sister's wedding.
According to FOX 28, a New Jersey-based Sean Higgins was subsequently arrested by officers at the scene and indicted with 'two counts of second-degree reckless death by auto, two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter (extreme indifference), fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence, and second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death'.
As per the filing, the 43-year-old had drank several beers before getting behind the wheel of the vehicle that killed the Gaudreau brothers.
Following Meredith's announcement, thousands of fans quickly took to the comments to congratulate her at this bittersweet moment.
"That’s your husbands way of letting you know he was there and always will be - congratulations!! What a sweet baby boy," one gushed.
Another penned: "Daddy’s twin - we love you so much sweet boy!"
"This is so touching and beautiful," a third continued. "Sending you all so much love."
Speaking to press prior to giving birth, Meredith previously opened up about her loss.
"John and I had the best six months as a family of four," she told ABC News. "These will forever be the best six months of my life.
"There's specifically one week that I will cherish forever — it will be my favorite week of my life out of those six months. We're actually a family of five. I'm in my ninth week of pregnancy with our third baby."
The news comes less than three months after Matthew's wife Madeline gave birth to their baby, with the couple having gotten pregnant just weeks before both brothers were killed.
Madeline welcomed a son to Johnny in December - four months after the accident - revealing she'd named him Tripp.
Sharing a snap of the tot at the time, she wrote: "Tripp Matthew, mummy and daddy's world."