Former Bruins center and Oilers forward Colby Cave dies on Saturday morning. He suffered brain bleed and was put in a medically-induced coma following emergency surgery earlier this week. He was 25.
“It is with great sadness to share the news that our Colby Cave passed away this morning,” Cave’s wife, Emily, said in a statement released Saturday morning. “Both our families are in shock but know our Colby was loved dearly by us, his family and friends, the entire hockey community and many more. We thank everyone for their prayers during this difficult time.”
Later on Saturday, Emily Cave posted a moving tribute to her husband on Instagram.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Cave’s “life and hockey career, though too short, were inspiringly emblematic of the best of our game.”
“Undrafted but undaunted, Colby was relentless in the pursuit of his hockey dream,” he added.
“Colby was a terrific teammate with great character, admired and liked everywhere he played,” Oilers chairman Bob Nicholson and general manager Ken Holland said in a joint statement.
Cave was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan and first played locally with the Battlefords Stars in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League from 2009 to 2011.
During most of the first three years of his professional career Cave was with the Providence Bruins, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Bruins. On January 15, 2019, Cave left the Bruins to join the Edmonton Oilers. Cave scored one goal in 11 games with the Oilers this season and had 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 44 games with Bakersfield of the American Hockey League. He was in his second season with the Oilers after being claimed off waivers from the Bruins on Jan. 15, 2019. In three seasons with the Oilers and Bruins, Cave had nine points (four goals, five assists) in 67 NHL games.
Colby Cave is gone but will never be forgotten.
