Salem County/New Jersey (USA) - On August 29, the ground was pulled out from under the feet of an entire family when the two field hockey brothers Johnny (†31) and Matthew Gaudreau (†29) were killed in a traffic accident . Both were due to be witnesses at their sister's wedding the following day, leaving behind their pregnant wives. Now one of the widows has shared a message that at least provides some consolation.

Matthew's son has been born, as his wife Madeline announced on Instagram on Monday.

Together, the couple had already decided on the name Tripp, and in memory of his father, he will also have the middle name Matthew and be "mom and dad's world", as the new mother also wrote.

However, the little boy will never meet his father. On the fateful day, the brothers were hit by a Jeep Grand Cherokee while out on a bike ride; the 43-year-old driver is said to have been drunk and is currently facing trial.

At the funeral, Meredith , the wife of NHL star and US national player Johnny Gaudreau, revealed that she was also nine weeks pregnant.

The older brother was able to celebrate the birth of daughter Noa Harper (2) and offspring Johnny Edward, who was only born on February 22, 2024, during his lifetime.

Johnny's third child will be born next year, and it would have been Matthew's first joy as a father.

The 29-year-old, who played ice hockey in Sweden and most recently in the ECHL, was really looking forward to the offspring and the new task, as Madeline said at the funeral service.

"I will never forget Matthew's tears when he heard the heartbeat of our unborn son Tripp for the first time," said the grieving widow.

The due date was originally set for December 31, but the little one turned out to be a little earlier. However, the mother did not reveal the exact date of birth.