“The strongest person I’ve ever met”: Tessa Andersson lauds Johnny Gaudreau's wife Meredith's strong will after ex-Flames star's tragic death

By Anjum Rajonno

Modified Oct 29, 2024 05:44 GMT

Calgary Flames alternate captain Rasmus Andersson’s wife, Tessa Andersson, expressed heartfelt admiration for late NHL player Johnny Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, on Instagram.

She reposted a quote by Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell, who shared how Meredith had been inspiring the club to continue playing their best hockey in honor of their beloved player.

On Monday, Tessa Andersson shared Hockey Forever’s Instagram post featuring Waddell’s statement on her IG stories. In the original post, the Blue Jackets GM said:

“What has helped us a lot has been Meredith, Johnny’s wife, telling us how Johnny would want us to keep going and play hockey. We are doing the best we can to manage it.”

While reposting it on her story, Tessa Andersson added that Meredith was the strongest person she had ever known. In the caption, she wrote:

“We are all so proud of you. The strongest person I’ve ever met 🤍 @meredithgaudreau_”

via Instagram/@tessaiandersson

Meredith had asked fans to be strong and enjoy the game that Johnny loved in his memory during a video message dedicated to Blue Jackets fans earlier this month.

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Meredith Gaudreau thanks “hockey sisters” for bracelet fundraising in honor of Johnny Gaudreau

On Monday, Meredith Gaudreau expressed her deep gratitude to her "hockey sisters" for their support of a bracelet fundraiser.

This unique initiative, led by Danielle Nyquist and her business Arm Candy LLC, raised over $20,000 for the Gaudreau Brothers Foundation. The foundation is a charity established to honor Johnny and his brother, Matthew.

Meredith shared a series of Instagram stories thanking the hockey community for their support.

"Love every single one of you, my hockey sisters," she wrote in the caption of one of the pictures on her Instagram story.

In one story, she posted photos of the special bracelets, which feature gold, blue, and white beads, some decorated with the numbers "13" and "21", tribute to the Gaudreau brothers’ jersey numbers.

“Nearly 500 women across the NHL purchased these bracelets to show their support and solidarity with @meredithgaudreau_ , @mogaudreau, and their families,” Danielle Nyquist wrote on Instagram.

The tragedy that inspired this fundraiser occurred in August 2024, when Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were hit by a truck while biking in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.

The brothers were home to serve as groomsmen at their sister's wedding. The suspected drunk driver involved in the accident has since been in police custody.