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.

“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.”

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.

“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.”

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.