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“I believe it’s nearly remembering who (Johnny Gaudreau) was and honouring on daily basis that you’ve got residing,” Hab says about quantity change.
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It was solely the primary scrimmage at Canadiens coaching camp, but it surely was particular for Cole Caufield as a result of he was carrying No. 13 Thursday on the CN Sports activities Complicated in Brossard.
Caufield determined to change from No. 22 to No. 13 in honour of Johnny Gaudreau, after the Columbus Blue Jackets star and his brother, Matthew, have been killed on Aug. 29 whereas driving their bikes once they have been hit by an alleged drunk driver close to their residence city in New Jersey, the night time earlier than their sister was scheduled to get married.
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5 days after Gaudreau’s dying, Caufield introduced in an Instagram publish that he was switching to No. 13 to honour a participant he grew up idolizing. Caufield wore No. 13 when he performed for the USA Hockey Nationwide Workforce Improvement Program’s U-18 group — scoring 126 targets in 123 video games over two seasons — earlier than being chosen by the Canadiens within the first spherical (fifteenth total) of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Shortly after Gaudreau’s dying, Caufield requested Jeff Gorton — the Canadiens’ government vice-president of hockey operations — and common supervisor Kent Hughes if he might change numbers to honour Gaudreau.
“They type of took care of it from there,” Caufield stated after Thursday’s scrimmage, whereas carrying a purple Canadiens hoodie with No. 13 on the fitting shoulder. “Didn’t need it to be a trouble or something, however glad all of it labored out.
“Loads of feelings,” Caufield added about placing on the No. 13 sweater. “There’s not one phrase to explain it. … I believe it’s nearly remembering who (Gaudreau) was and honouring on daily basis that you’ve got residing.”
One other good approach to honour Gaudreau could be for the NHL to rename the Woman Byng Trophy for essentially the most gentlemanly participant in his honour. Gaudreau received that trophy in 2016-17 when he had 18-43-61 totals with the Calgary Flames and solely 4 penalty minutes.
Highway to the Cup
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Caufield is 5-foot-8 and 175 kilos, which is one purpose he admired Gaudreau a lot. But it surely was extra than simply that.
“He’s comparable stature, however the whole lot he did was labored for, earned,” Caufield stated. “That’s type of the way in which I like to hold myself — simply working for what you get. He was a really expert hockey participant and somebody I respect loads. Simply making an attempt so as to add slightly little bit of myself to his recreation and keep in mind him effectively.”
Caufield and Gaudreau have been teammates in Could with Workforce USA on the IIHF world championship in Czechia. That made Gaudreau’s dying hit even tougher.
“What individuals don’t get to see is the human facet of the whole lot,” Caufield stated. “I believe we’re all human and he’s only a man who was completely satisfied on a regular basis and all people type of gravitated in the direction of him and I believe that’s what was most particular. It’s one thing that I need to be in the future and perhaps be remembered as. He was clearly a particular particular person … he was a particular hockey participant, however him and his household and his family members have been very particular and nonetheless are. Going ahead, simply honour him on daily basis.”
Caufield is coming off a season by which he posted 28-37-65 totals with eight of these targets coming within the final 9 video games. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis usually talks about how there’s a distinction between somebody who performs hockey and a hockey participant. St. Louis believes Caufield turned a hockey participant final season.
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“You take a look at a man like Cole, he’s at all times been very proficient and a aim scorer,” St. Louis stated Wednesday. “Final season he had quite a lot of critics as a result of he wasn’t scoring quite a lot of targets, however discovered to be a extra full participant, extra engaged bodily, successful puck battles.”
Caufield stated that’s one thing he talked about loads final season with St. Louis.
“Hopefully this yr we are able to type of mesh these two collectively and discover methods to attain extra and nonetheless play the defensive facet of the sport and play all around the ice,” Caufield stated. “Pleased with the place I’m going and never happy with the place I’m at.”
Caufield grew up in Wisconsin as a Colorado fan and the primary sweater he bought was an Avalanche one with Paul Stastny’s identify and No. 26 on the again.
“That was my group rising up and now it’s Habs solely,” Caufield stated with a smile.
Now it’s arduous for Caufield to go anyplace in Montreal with out seeing children carrying a Canadiens sweater together with his identify on the again and there will definitely be a requirement for his new No. 13 sweater. He hopes children carrying his new No. 13 may even keep in mind Gaudreau.
“It’s fairly cool,” he stated about seeing children put on his jersey. “It’s one thing that you just type of by no means consider rising up. It’s type of only a dream, however you concentrate on it, it’s fairly cool. I really like this metropolis and I really like this group and taking part in for it, it’s actually an honour. To have the fervour of the followers of town, it’s the very best place to play and it’s one thing I by no means need to depart.”
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