Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield changed his number to 13 to honour Johnny Gaudreau after his tragic death this Summer, and so far, the new number has worked wonders for the trigger man.
Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield changed his number to 13 to honour Johnny Gaudreau after his tragic death this Summer, and so far, the new number has worked wonders for the trigger man.
It's been just over two months since Columbus Blue Jackets all-star player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were tragically killed by an alleged drunk driver on a bike ride during their sister's wedding weekend. Since then, the tributes have multiplied from Columbus to Calgary, Montreal, and any city where hockey is loved.
The hockey community has been shocked to its core, and fans of the Blue Jackets and his former team, the Calgary Flames, and plenty of other markets mourned their passing. We've minutes of silence, banners being raised in the rafted, and players wearing decals on their helmets league-wide, all previously announced and planned tributes well deserved.
However, there is something that wasn't planned. As the Calendar flipped its page to November, and all but three teams had played at least 10 games, Nico Hischier and Cole Caufield, with 10 goals, both of whom wear Gaudreau's number 13, are the co-leaders in goals. Nikita Kucherov and Sam Reinhart are tied in second place, who scored nine goals, the latter also wearing number 13.
Granted, it's probably just a coincidence, but life works in mysterious ways, as the saying goes, and seeing the number 13 right up there in the race to the Rocket Richard Trophy is yet another reminder of a player who will never be forgotten.
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