NHL

Johnny Gaudreau's wife is commemorating their third wedding anniversary with a truly heartbreaking message ... just days after the NHL star and his brother tragically passed away.

"I never post this much but John deserves it," Meredith said on Instagram on Wednesday. "3 years ago today I became yours forever. One of the best days of my life, including the night we got engaged and the days we brought our babies into the world."

Meredith -- who shared pictures of their ceremony and honeymoon with the emotional note -- explained she knew from the moment she met the Columbus Blue Jackets star she would end up being his wife ... and their relationship only got better as time went on.

Matthew Gaudreau's death is inspiring genoristy in others ... with many people donating thousands to his widow and soon-to-be born child after his tragic death Thursday.

A GoFundMe has been started in honor of the brother to NHL standout Johnny Gaudreau ... with all the proceeds going to his wife Madeline -- and, it's just crossed over the $375k mark.

The frundraiser's description explains the money will go toward alleviating the financial burden brought on by Matthew's sudden passing ... though obviously they admit no amount of money will alleviate the family's grief.

The widow of Johnny Gaudreau has shared her first messages since he was tragically killed by a suspected DUI driver on Thursday ... and it is heartbreaking.

As TMZ previously reported ... the NHL star and his little brother, Matthew, were hit and killed while riding their bikes. The suspect in the case has since been charged with their deaths.

Meredith Gaudreau on Saturday shared two devastating posts on social media about her husband’s death ... and explained what an amazing husband and father he was.

Sean Higgins -- the man accused of killing NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his little brother, Matthew -- made his first appearance in a New Jersey courtroom on Friday ... and he looked upset to hear he'll be spending his upcoming long holiday weekend in jail.

The 43-year-old appeared virtually before a judge ... after he was hit with two charges of death by auto following allegations he drunkenly slammed his Jeep Grand Cherokee into the backs of the Gaudreaus on Thursday night while they were biking on a small roadway in Oldmans Township.

Wearing an anti-suicide smock -- Higgins initially didn't speak much at the hearing ... although when he was informed he would remain behind bars until at least next Thursday -- he seemed dejected.

The tragic deaths of the Gaudreau brothers keeps getting more and more heartbreaking ... Matthew's wife is apparently expecting to deliver the couple's first baby in just a few months.

According to an online registry, Madeline Gaudreau is currently pregnant ... and has been given a due date of Dec. 31, 2024.

In the registry, the couple had been asking family and friends for all kinds of newborn items -- from clothes to dishware -- to help prepare them for their first foray into parenthood.

The sports world is paying tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau following their tragic death at the hands of a drunk driver Thursday night in New Jersey.

Mike Trout -- a South Jersey native like the brothers -- said he was devastated by the news of their passing ... and that his condolences were with his family.

Lebron James also commented on the situation ... saying, "Insane man! I instantly go so down and sad."

The man accused of killing NHL superstar Johnny Gaudreau and his little brother with his car on Thursday night admitted to authorities he drank "5-6 beers" before getting behind the wheel ... this according to court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports.

In the docs, cops say 43-year-old Sean Higgins admitted to officers he slammed his Jeep Grand Cherokee into the backs of the Gaudreau brothers -- who were on bicycles -- on a rural road in Salem County, New Jersey at around 8 PM.

Cops say Higgins told them he was attempting to get around an SUV on its left ... but when he thought the vehicle made a move to block him from passing -- he pivoted to try to get by it on its right. Seconds later, he collided with the brothers ... causing fatal injuries.

7:17 AM PT -- A church official tells TMZ Sports ... Katie Gaudreau and Devin Joyce's wedding has been canceled in wake of the tragedy.

NHL superstar Johnny Gaudreau and his little brother, Matthew, died just hours before their sister was set to get married.

Katie Gaudreau and Devin Joyce were scheduled to the tie the knot at a ceremony at 1:45 PM on Friday at a church in New Jersey. According to Katie's Instagram page, the couple had actually rehearsed the event on Thursday night -- just before the Gaudreau brothers were tragically killed.

5:45 AM PT -- New Jersey State Police tell TMZ ... "Troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash at 8:19 PM on County Route 551 North, milepost 11.1 Oldmans Township, Salem County. Based on a preliminary investigation, two pedalcyclists, John M. Gaudreau, a 31-year-old male from Carneys Point, N.J., and Matthew R. Gaudreau, a 29-year-old male from Pedricktown, N.J., were traveling north on County Route 551, close to the fog line of the roadway. Sean M. Higgins, a 43-year-old male from Woodstown, N.J., was traveling north on CR 551 in a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind a sedan and SUV."

"Higgins attempted to pass the slower-moving sedan and SUV, entered the southbound lanes of travel, passed the slower-moving sedan, and attempted to re-enter the northbound lanes of travel when the SUV in front of Higgins moved to the middle of the roadway, splitting the north and south lanes to safely pass the two pedalcyclist traveling north on the right side of the roadway. Higgins then attempted to pass the SUV on the right and struck the two pedalcyclists in the rear. As a result of the collision, the two pedalcyclists sustained fatal injuries."

They concluded ... "Through further investigation, Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, charged with two counts of death by auto, and lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility. This crash remains an active investigation, and no additional information is available."

Jayson Tatum and Matthew Tkachuk were destined to be world champions ... so says their former middle school gym teacher, who tells TMZ Sports he recognized long ago that there was something special about the two.

The Boston Celtics hooper and Florida Panthers left winger -- who both won their respective titles in the NBA and NHL this month -- both attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, MO as kids ... and Michael Derkits -- who also coached Tatum on the basketball team -- got an early look at their potential.

Derkits said Tatum and Tkachuk hit it off as soon as the former transferred to Chaminade as a 7th grader ... and he credits to them having similar personalities.

Celine Dion hit up the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas on Friday -- and she even participated in the event despite her constant battle with a rare neurological disorder.

The iconic singer seemed to be in great spirits as she arrived at The Sphere in Sin City to attend the National Hockey League's big night.

During it, Celine walked onstage in a chic dress and stepped up to a microphone, telling the crowd she was excited while joking that she's "not even a hockey mom."

The Florida Panthers' championship rage fest continues -- the latest stop on their victory tour was a popular Miami nightclub ... and Lord Stanley was the life of the party!!

The Panthers -- who won their first-ever Stanley Cup on Monday -- were spotted at E11EVEN ... and it's clear they're not slowing down their celebration any time soon.

You can see Aleksander Barkov and the team get the VIP treatment at the venue, with a celebratory welcome, a bunch of bottles (including Ace of Spades), and tons of Panthers fans.

Sergei Berezin, who played 7 seasons in the National Hockey League, has died at the age of 52.

Sergei's death was announced Wednesday by the NHL Alumni Association ... though the cause of death is unclear.

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Sergie in the 10th round of the 1994 NHL Draft out of Voskresensk, Russia. He went on to play 5 seasons for the franchise, scoring more than 20 goals in four of those campaigns.

The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions ... and star forward Matthew Tkachuk is celebrating accordingly -- parading it around a Florida bar, before dipping it in the ocean!

The 26-year-old took Lord Stanley to the Elbo Room -- an iconic watering hole in Fort Lauderdale -- bright and early on Tuesday ... and he created quite the scene.

Alongside Sam Bennett, Tkachuk helped give fans a chance to do something many could only dream of -- drink out of the trophy ... just hours after the team had won it over Edmonton in Game 7 of the Finals.

Drake's summer vibes aren't high right now ... and they certainly didn't get any better on Monday, as he lost a massive $500k bet after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final!

The Toronto-based rapper put down a $500,000 wager on the Edmonton Oilers (vs. Florida Panthers) to win the country's first Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadians did it back in 1993. Unfortunately for Drake and our friends up north, the wait will continue.

The Panthers took game seven by a final score of 2-1 ... handing Drake an L.

The Florida Panthers won their first-ever Stanley Cup on Monday night, and perhaps nobody was happier to see it than golf star Brooks Koepka, who celebrated the dub with a boozy night in Nashville!!

Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Sergei Bobrovsky got the job done in Sunrise ... beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Final, 2-1 -- and while Koepka couldn't be there in person, he certainly didn't let the moment pass by quietly while he was out in Tennessee.

Watching from a bar in the Music City, Koepka went crazy as soon as the clock hit 0:00 on the Panthers' season.