Montreal Canadiens star Cole Caufield changes jersey number in honour of hero Johnny Gaudreau
Amidst all the public tributes to legendary hockey player Johnny Gaudreau, Montreal Canadiens star Cole Caufield made a beautiful gesture: He changed his jersey number in his honor.
The loss of former Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets star Johhny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew still weighs heavily on the hockey community. Yet, they largely remained together, paying tribute with videos online and memorials in front of stadiums he knew used to call home.
Among the latest tributes to Johnny Gaudreau came from a young fan of his that the hockey fans are already familiar with. This is the 23-year-old Montreal Canadiens star forward Cole Caufield, who shared on Instagram the story of how he got to play with his hero and he will always remember him as a great person all around. He finally added that after a few years in the NHL as #22, he will return to his former jersey number of 13 to honor the late Blue Jackets forward.
"We all lost an amazing person, both on and off the ice, in last week's tragedy. My deepest condolences go to the entire Gaudreau family, especially Johnny's wife and two kids, who I had the pleasure of meeting. Nothing will be able to fill the void in their families and loved ones hearts, but I hope it provides some comfort to know how these two positively impacted the lives of so many. They will truly be missed.
Getting to play with your hero is something that most people only dream of. I was lucky enough to be Johnny's teammate this past summer and it didn't take long to realize how great of a person he was. He was the most welcoming, genuine, and funniest guy I have ever met. He was someone everyone gravitated towards and I took every chance I could to be around him. Not only was he an amazing hockey player and teammate, but he was down to earth and truly cared about every person he encountered.
The last few years playing as #22 have been some of the best years of my life. It truly has been a dream come true and I will forever hold those memories and that number close to me. I wore #13 at a point in my career because of Johnny and now I will be wearing it again to honor him. He paved the way for smaller players and proved we had a future in this game at the highest level. I will forever be grateful to him for inspiring me and others.
Rest in Peace, Johnny hockey."
Getting to play with your hero is something that most people only dream of. I was lucky enough to be Johnny's teammate this past summer and it didn't take long to realize how great of a person he was. He was the most welcoming, genuine, and funniest guy I have ever met. He was someone everyone gravitated towards and I took every chance I could to be around him. Not only was he an amazing hockey player and teammate, but he was down to earth and truly cared about every person he encountered.
The last few years playing as #22 have been some of the best years of my life. It truly has been a dream come true and I will forever hold those memories and that number close to me. I wore #13 at a point in my career because of Johnny and now I will be wearing it again to honor him. He paved the way for smaller players and proved we had a future in this game at the highest level. I will forever be grateful to him for inspiring me and others.
Rest in Peace, Johnny hockey."
This heartwarming grand gesture will undoubtedly be a great reminder of Johnny Gaudreau's NHL legacy this season. There is always a chance the league will retire his jersey number but with #13 on the ice, his memory may be better honored.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 3 | 239 ANSWERS Montreal Canadiens star Cole Caufield changes jersey number in honour of hero Johnny Gaudreau Should the league retire Johnny Gaudreau's jersey number? | ||
| Yes, soon | 85 | 35.6 % |
| Yes, after some time | 30 | 12.6 % |
| No | 124 | 51.9 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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