Cole Caufield ditches his iconic number to pay homage to the late Johnny Gaudreau
Montreal Canadiens fans now have one more thing to be proud of: star forward Cole Caufield will return to their former jersey number to honor the late Johnny Gaudreau.
There are no words to describe the feeling hockey fans felt with the loss of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau. After their tragic demise by a drunk and reckless driver, the community gathered around their family and friends, paying tribute and donating to the loved ones of the deceased.. Despite only a $30,000 goal, well over half a million dollars have been raised so far.
23-year-old Montreal Canadiens star forward Cole Caufield was one of the latest to pay tribute to the late Blue Jackets legend, starting an Instagram post sending his best to the Gaudrea family. He stated how he always saw Johnny Gaudreau as a hero, and it was an honor to play with him and know him on a personal level.
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."
Cole Caufield then surprised fans with a beautifully noble gesture, stating he plans to ditch his current NHL jersey number 22 for the one he wore when he was first drafted. He plays next season with the Montreal Canadiens as #13 to honor Johnny Gaudreau and his memory.
Rest in Peace, Johnny hockey."
Johnny Gaudreau was already going to be remembered fondly by hockey fans throughout this season, but Cole Caufiled's gesture guarantees that no one in the league will ever have a chance to forget. Hopefully, the rest of the NHL finds their own ways to tribute him as the 2024-25 season commences.
Source: Habs Fanatics
Cole Caufield announces he is changing his number in honor of Johnny Gaudreau
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 3 | 289 ANSWERS Cole Caufield ditches his iconic number to pay homage to the late Johnny Gaudreau Should Cole Caufield keep this jersey number to honor Johnny Gaudreau? | ||
| Yes, for their career | 155 | 53.6 % |
| Yes, just this season | 83 | 28.7 % |
| No | 51 | 17.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
