Johnny Gaudreau’s wife Meredith shares adorable throwback family Christmas pictures with late NHLer in matching pajamas as his kids

Late NHLer Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew’s tragic death in late August last year left his family and the entire hockey community grieving. Since then, the Gaudreau family has been paying special tributes to the memory of their beloved ones from time to time.

On Friday, Johnny Gaudreau’s wife Meredith posted a collage of throwback photos on her Instagram featuring Johnny and their kids wearing matching pajamas. In he caption, she wrote:

“As if the $10 target pjs weren’t already my favorite before”

The first picture showed Meredith and Johnny sitting together on a couch with their daughter Meredith. All three of them wore white T-shirts paired with matching red, black and white plaid pajama pants. The pillow on the coach read ‘Merry Christmas’ as the trio smiled at the camera.

via Instagram/ @meredithgaudreau_

The second picture had Noa sitting on Johnny’s lap while drinking from a bottle while the father-daughter wore the same pajama outfits. The third picture featured baby Johnny, the couple’s son, sleeping in similar pajamas on his mother’s lap.

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Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey to be retired by his junior team

Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey will reportedly be honored by his junior team, the Dubuque Fighting Saints, on Saturday as they are set to retire his No. 8 jersey. Gaudreau played for the team during the 2010-11 season, helping them win the Clark Cup as league champions. This will be the first jersey retirement in the team’s history.

The Fighting Saints have announced that proceeds from their game against the Sioux City Musketeers will be donated to the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation. Gaudreau’s parents Guy and Jane, his sisters Katie and Kristen, and his widow Meredith, will attend the ceremony. Meredith, who is expecting their third child, will be joined by their two young children.

“Johnny Gaudreau will have his No. 8 jersey retired by the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints on Saturday. Gaudreau played for Dubuque as a 17-year-old in 2010-11 and helped the team win the Clark Cup as league champions,” Sportsnet tweeted on Friday.

The event will also feature the unveiling of the Gaudreau Award, which was originally created to honor excellence and dedication to hockey. USHL Commissioner Glenn Hefferan is set to present the award on Saturday.

“It was an honor befitting of his contribution to the organization and also obviously the sad circumstances that happened. He was one of the better players in the history of the team,” said Fighting Saints part-owner Peter Luukko. [H/T AP]

Johnny Gaudreau played 11 seasons in the NHL with the Calgary Flames and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Gaudreau tragically passed away on Aug. 29 along with his younger brother Matthew in a biking accident in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.