Cole Caufield unexpectedly changes jersey number in honor of Johnny Gaudreau

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Axel Williams
September 3, 2024 (9:23 PM)

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Johnny Gaudreau tragically passed away on Thursday alongside his brother Matthew. At the time, they were riding their bicycles when they were eventually struck by a drunk driver.

Since that time, numerous tributes have been pouring in for the two brothers. Fans are doing everything they can to show the family some love. Furthermore, there have been all sorts of candlelight vigils planned. The Columbus Blue Jackets are going to do one, and the Calgary Flames will be doing one as well.

Just moments ago, Montreal Canadiens star Cole Caufield revealed his next move. Below, you can see that Caufield will be changing his number from 22 to 13 in honor of Gaudreau. Gaudreau was his hero, and he feels as though the number change is the best way to pay homage.

"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."

Our heart goes out to the Gaudreau family as well as the entire hockey community. Caufield's message is yet another example of just how beloved Gaudreau was by his peers. We're sure we will continue to see more tributes like this in the coming days and weeks. All we can say is, "bravo Cole."

Do you like this move from Caufield? Let us know in the poll down below and stay tuned to Hockey Unplugged for the latest news and updates from around the hockey world.