Canadiens: Caufield Changes Number to Gaudreau's 13

Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield took to Instagram tonight to announce his new number: 13.

There was a time when it made sense for Cole Caufield to wear number 22 for the Sainte-Flanelle. After all, the diminutive winger is a sniper and he was walking in Steve Shutt's footsteps, the man who co-holds (with Guy Lafleur) the record for most goals in a season with the Canadiens with 60.

Once upon a time though, Caufield wore number 13 because of the player who was his inspiration, his model, the man who helped him believe that he could be a star in the NHL no matter how short he was: Johnny Gaudreau.

Since last Friday, the hockey world is in mourning because Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by an allegedly drunk driver while riding their bikes in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. Johnny was 31 while Matthew was 29, both still had a lot to live through. 

Nicknamed Johnny Hockey, Gaudreau was loved by all who knew him and even by those who didn't really knew him. The tributes have been coming out in droves since news broke out of the tragedy,

Tonight, Caufield announced his own tribute, going back to wearing number 13. He wrote a touching message on his Instagram which included the following:

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 toward 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.

This is not a surprising move from Caufield but nonetheless a touching one and while it won't bring Gaudreau back to his family, they will find some solace in the fact he touched so many lives. 

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