Colby Cave

Lore & Background

Cave was raised on a family cattle farm near Battleford, Saskatchewan, and began skating at age three and playing hockey at five. He played minor hockey in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League, captaining the Battlefords Midget AAA Stars in his second season. The Kootenay Ice selected him in the first round of the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft, but his rights were traded to the Swift Current Broncos in 2011. He made his WHL debut with the Broncos in February 2011 and later served as team captain, setting career offensive highs of 75 points in 2014–15.

Undrafted, Cave signed an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins in April 2015 and spent most of his first four professional seasons with their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, where he was named alternate captain. He made his NHL debut on December 21, 2017, playing on a line with former Broncos teammate Jake DeBrusk. Cave scored his first NHL goal on December 17, 2018, against the Montreal Canadiens. He was claimed off waivers by the Edmonton Oilers in January 2019 and played 44 games for them, scoring two goals in the 2018–19 season and one goal in 2019–20 before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended play.

Reader's Guide

Cave's significance lies in his journey from an undrafted free agent to an NHL regular, and in the circumstances of his sudden death at age 25. His teammates and coaches emphasized his adaptability: he began as a fourth-liner, developed into a penalty killer and matchup player, and eventually became a captain in junior hockey. In the AHL, he was praised for his 200-foot game and ability to fill any role. His death from a colloid cyst—after complaining of headaches on April 6, 2020, and being airlifted to Sunnybrook Hospital—prompted memorials from former teammates and coaches, and the establishment of the Colby Cave Memorial Fund. Cave played 67 NHL games across five seasons, recording four goals and five assists, and his career is remembered for his work ethic and the impact of his loss on the hockey community.

Did You Know?

• Cave's favourite film growing up was The Lion King, which he continued to enjoy into adulthood.
• He married his wife Emily on July 19, 2019, and they were members of Hillsong Church.
• Cave scored his first NHL goal with 26 seconds left in the second period of a 4–0 shutout of the Montreal Canadiens on December 17, 2018.
• He was airlifted to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto after suffering a brain bleed from a colloid cyst.

Saskatchewan Roots & Early Years

Born on December 26, 1994, in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Colby Alexander Cave grew up on a cattle farm just outside the town alongside his sister Taylor, raised by parents Al and Jennifer Cave. His relationship with the ice started remarkably young — he was on skates by three and wielding a stick by five. Off the ice, the young Cave had a fondness for toy cars and tractors and was a devoted viewer of John Wayne westerns. The Lion King held a special place in his heart, a favorite he carried well into adulthood. His competitive hockey path ran through the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League, where he suited up for the Battlefords Bantam AA Barons and later the Battlefords Midget AAA Stars. Between 2009 and 2011 he tallied 29 goals and 43 assists across those two programs, and in his second year with the Stars he was entrusted with the captaincy. Before his WHL call-up, he also logged three games with the Battlefords North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, rounding out a formative stretch of play in his home province.

Rise Through the Western Hockey League

Cave's path to major junior hockey began when the Kootenay Ice selected him 13th overall in the 2009 Bantam Draft. His WHL journey, however, ultimately unfolded in Swift Current. In January 2011 the Broncos acquired his junior rights in a trade that sent Cody Eakin to Kootenay, and Cave made his league debut just weeks later on February 25, 2011. His development with the Broncos was steady and impressive. After a first full season of 16 points in 70 games, he more than doubled his production the following year with 21 goals and 20 assists. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him 89th among North American skaters heading into the 2013 entry draft. Named captain for the 2013-14 season, succeeding Adam Lowry, Cave returned to the role in 2014-15 and posted career-best numbers: 35 goals and 40 assists for 75 points in 72 games, earning both the Team MVP and Coach's Award. Over his junior tenure he appeared in 302 WHL games, accumulating 202 regular-season points and eight in the playoffs. A friendship forged during those seasons was with Jake DeBrusk, a bond that would extend into the pros.

Professional Path & NHL Appearances

Cave entered the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent, signing an entry-level deal with the Boston Bruins organization on April 7, 2015. His first full AHL season with the Providence Bruins saw him record 29 points in 75 games, and by the following year he was named alternate captain at just 22. His offensive output continued to climb, reaching 35 points in 2016-17. His NHL debut came on an emergency recall on December 21, 2017, when he shared a line with former Broncos teammate Jake DeBrusk in a shootout win over Winnipeg before being immediately sent back to Providence. In 2018-19 he briefly slotted into the Bruins' top line, centering Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak in Patrice Bergeron's absence. On December 17, 2018, he scored his first NHL goal with 26 seconds remaining in the second period against Montreal. After 20 games and five points with Boston, the Bruins placed him on waivers in January 2019, and the Edmonton Oilers claimed him. In total, Cave logged 67 NHL appearances across both organizations, collecting nine points over five seasons.

Tragic Passing & Lasting Legacy

On the evening of April 6, 2020, Cave began experiencing severe headaches. His condition worsened rapidly through the night, and he was airlifted to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, where surgeons performed emergency brain surgery to remove a colloid cyst that had caused a brain bleed. Despite the intervention, Cave remained in a medically induced coma for four days and passed away on April 11, 2020, at the age of 25. The hockey world was stunned. Teammates, coaches, and organizations across the sport rallied to honor his memory, and the establishment of the Colby Cave Memorial Fund became a tangible way for fans, former teammates, and the broader community to channel their grief into something lasting. For those who knew him — from his Swift Current Broncos teammates to his Providence and Boston colleagues — his loss represented not just the death of a young player but the end of a journey that had carried him from a cattle farm in Saskatchewan to the NHL. His story, though cut tragically short, left a mark on everyone it touched.

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