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“He paved the way in which for smaller gamers and proved we had a future on this recreation on the highest stage,” Hab says after Gaudreau’s demise.
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The Canadiens introduced Tuesday night time that Cole Caufield will begin sporting No. 13 for the upcoming season in honour of Johnny Gaudreau.
Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, had been killed final Thursday night time in Salem County, N.J., after they had been struck by an alleged drunk driver whereas using their bicycles after a marriage rehearsal for his or her youthful sister, Katie. The Gaudreau brothers had been imagined to be groomsmen for the scheduled marriage ceremony on Friday.
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Gaudreau was making ready to enter his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets after spending the primary 9 seasons of his NHL profession with the Calgary Flames.
Caufield, 23, described Gaudreau as his hero on an Instagram put up following Gaudreau’s demise.
As a teenager rising up in Wisconsin, Caufield was impressed by Gaudreau, a New Jersey native who was eight years older. Gaudreau gained the Hobey Baker Award in 2014 as the highest participant in U.S. school after posting 36-44-80 totals in 40 video games with Boston School.
Gaudreau confirmed small gamers might excel within the NHL and he completed second in league scoring in 2021-22, posting 40-75-115 totals with the Flames. Caufield is 5-foot-8 and 175 kilos, whereas Gaudreau was 5-foot-9 and 163 kilos.
Caufield gained the Hobey Baker Award in 2021 after posting 30-22-52 totals in 31 video games with the College of Wisconsin.
Caufield had an opportunity to play with Gaudreau for the primary time on Crew USA at this 12 months’s IIHF World Championship they usually had been teammates in what sadly ended up being Gaudreau’s final recreation — a 1-0 loss to Czechia on Might 23 in Prague.
Highway to the Cup
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In one other Instagram put up Tuesday night time, Caufield defined why he was altering from No. 22 to No. 13.
“We misplaced a tremendous individual, each on and off the ice, in final week’s tragedy,” Caufield wrote. “My deepest condolences go to your complete Gaudreau household, particularly Johnny’s spouse and two youngsters, who I had the pleasure of assembly. Nothing will have the ability to fill the void of their households and family members hearts, however I hope it offers some consolation to understand how these two positively impacted the lives of so many. They are going to really be missed.
“Attending to play together with your hero is one thing that most individuals solely dream of,” Caufield added. “I used to be fortunate to be Johnny’s teammate this previous summer season and it didn’t take lengthy to appreciate how nice of an individual he was. He was probably the most welcoming, real, and funniest man I’ve ever met. He was somebody everybody gravitated in the direction of and I took each likelihood I might to be round him. Not solely was he a tremendous hockey participant and teammate, however he was all the way down to earth and really cared about each individual he encountered.
“The previous couple of years enjoying as #22 have been a number of the finest years of my life. It really has been a dream come true and I’ll perpetually maintain these recollections and that quantity near me. I wore #13 at a degree in my profession due to Johnny and now I will likely be sporting it once more to honour him. He paved the way in which for smaller gamers and proved we had a future on this recreation on the highest stage. I’ll perpetually be grateful to him for uplifting me and others.
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“Relaxation in Peace, Johnny Hockey.”
The Canadiens will open the 2024-25 season on Wednesday, Oct. 9, when the Toronto Maple Leafs go to the Bell Centre.
Caufield would be the ninth participant in Canadiens historical past to put on No. 13, following Edmond Bouchard (1922), Alex Tanguay (2004), Michael Cammalleri (2010-12), Mike Brown (2016), Alexander Semin (2016), Max Domi (2019-20), Cédric Paquette (2022) and Mitchel Stephens (2024).
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