Meredith Gaudreau gave birth to her and late husband Johnny Gaudreau’s third child — a boy named Carter Michael Gaudreau — on April 1, she announced Monday on Instagram.

Meredith said Carter’s middle name is the same as Johnny’s and his weight at birth was the “exact same as his daddy.”

“He looks exactly like his daddy too,” Meredith wrote.

Meredith announced she was pregnant with her and Johnny’s third child while eulogizing Johnny in September 2024. Meredith and Johnny had a son, Johnny Jr., and daughter, Noa, at the time of Johnny’s death.

“We’re actually a family of five,” Meredith said in September. “I’m in my ninth week of pregnancy with our third baby. A total surprise.”

Johnny, a star forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and his brother Matthew were fatally hit by an alleged drunk driver in August, on the eve of their sister’s wedding in Oldmans Township, N.J.

The brothers were riding bicycles along County Route 551, a two-lane highway, when they were hit by a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was trying to pass an SUV. The SUV moved to the center of the road to pass the brothers on their bicycles, who were on the SUV’s right side. The driver of the Jeep then attempted to pass the SUV on the right and struck the Gaudreau brothers from behind.

The alleged driver, Sean M. Higgins, faces charges including reckless vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

Johnny was 31 years old, and Matthew was 29.

Matthew’s wife Madeleine gave birth to their first son, Tripp Matthew Gaudreau, in December after the pair announced the pregnancy on Instagram in June 2024.

Johnny spent 11 years in the NHL, the first nine with the Calgary Flames before signing a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2022. Known among fans as “Johnny Hockey,” the undersized forward emerged as one of the league’s top playmaking wingers. He made six All-Star teams in eight seasons with the Flames.

Matthew also played professional hockey, most recently with the ECHL’s Worcester Railers in 2021-22. Both brothers played Division I hockey at Boston College.

Along with their wives and children, the Gaudreau brothers are survived by their parents, Guy and Jane, and two sisters, Katie and Kristen.

(Photo: Kirk Irwin / NHLI via Getty Images)

Your Next Read