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Remembering Colby Cave

Remembering Colby Cave
Matthew Page Editorials News

While the NHL was on shutdown in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, the league received some unexpected, devastating news. Edmonton Oilers forward Colby Cave passed away on Saturday morning, April 11th, while battling a brain bleed while in a medically-induced coma. Cave was only 25 years old.

It was upsetting news for the entire hockey world to see his career and life cut so short. Not only for his young age, but he was not even a year married to his wife Emily. To see him leave his family, friends, and teammates due to a critical health issue is tragic and will be felt throughout the Oilers organization. While the NHL community mourns his death, we reflect upon the life and career of Colby Cave.

Cave was born on December 26, 1994, in North Battleford, Saskatchewan and began his playing career in 2010 with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League. He started his career in juniors slow, only scoring six goals and ten assists in the 2011-12 season. However, he saw a great increase in production the next season as he scored 21 goals and 20 assists.

His hard work to get better would pay off, as in 2013 he was named the Broncos’ captain and saw his production flourish in his final years of junior hockey. He enjoyed two straight seasons of 70-plus points, starting with a 33 goal, 37 assist season in 2013-14. He would be eligible for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, but he would go undrafted. However, that would only make him better as he enjoyed the best season of his junior career in 2014-15 with a 35 goal, 40 assist campaign.
As a result of his strong play, the Boston Bruins saw the potential and signed him to his first NHL contract at the end of the season. Cave would spend the first two seasons of his professional career with Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League, but in the middle of his third season, he received an emergency call up by the big club. He would make his NHL debut with the Bruins on December 21st, 2017, and he played alongside his former junior teammate Jake DeBrusk.

He played in three games that campaign, but he still finished his season in the AHL strong. In his first three seasons in Providence, he posted 37 goals, 60 assists, and 97 points. That sample size would be enough to earn him an extended look in 2018, playing 20 games in Boston the next season. He scored his first NHL goal on December 17, 2018, against the Montreal Canadiens at the Belle Center. That would be his lone goal in Boston, as he would tally four more helpers before being placed on waivers to be returned to the AHL. The Edmonton Oilers, however, placed a claim on him while on waivers, and Cave was on his way to Edmonton.

Colby would stick the rest of the hockey season in the NHL, scoring two goals and adding an assist in 33 games, and spent the 2019-20 NHL season up and down between the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, and the Oilers. He was successful in Bakersfield as he tallied 11 goals and 12 assists. He scored one goal in the NHL this season, but it was a pretty end-to-end goal against Matt Murray and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the wake of Cave’s sudden passing, Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson and GM Ken Holland issued a statement saying, “Colby was a terrific teammate with great character, admired & liked everywhere he played. Our thoughts & prayers go out to his wife Emily, his family & friends at this very difficult time.”

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also said in a statement, “Undrafted but undaunted, Colby was relentless in the pursuit of his hockey dream with both the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins organizations. An earnest and hardworking player, he was admired by his teammates and coaches. More important, he was a warm and generous person who was well-liked by all those fortunate enough to know him.”

“Undrafted but undaunted,” is the perfect way to describe his life. From playing in the small town rinks of Saskatchewan, playing juniors in Swift Current, and being undrafted in the 2014 entry draft to earning a spot in professional hockey is an admirable achievement. His life may be cut short, but he will be remembered for his work ethic and personality.

All of us at Drive4Five would like to extend our condolences to Colby’s family, his wife Emily, and the entire Edmonton Oilers organization in the days following this tragic passing. Rest in peace Colby Cave. You will be missed.

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