Colby Cave
A dedicated and hard-working Canadian forward whose life and career were tragically cut short, leaving a legacy of kindness and perseverance.
1994–2020 (age 26)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: December 26·Millennials
Biography
Colby Cave's hockey story was one of unwavering determination. Born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, he was never drafted into the NHL but willed his way there through sheer work ethic. He played major junior hockey for the Swift Current Broncos, where he served as captain and was known for his leadership and two-way play. After signing as a free agent with the Boston Bruins in 2015, he spent years honing his game in the American Hockey League with the Providence Bruins, becoming a beloved core player and an alternate captain. His NHL debut for Boston in 2018 was the hard-earned reward for that grind. He later played for the Edmonton Oilers, bringing his responsible, physical style to their bottom six. In April 2020, while with the Oilers' AHL affiliate, Cave suffered a brain bleed from a colloid cyst and fell into a coma. He passed away days later at the age of 25. His death sent shockwaves through the hockey world, which remembered him not just as a player chasing his dream, but as a universally respected and positive teammate.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Colby was born in 1994, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Colby Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Colby's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Could drive
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2012Could vote
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Turned 21
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2020Died at 26
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
Key Achievements
- Played 67 NHL games across two seasons with the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers.
- Served as captain of the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL and was an alternate captain for the AHL's Providence Bruins.
- Recorded his first and only NHL point, an assist, for the Boston Bruins in a game against the Montreal Canadiens in 2018.
Did You Know?
He and his wife, Emily, were married in the summer of 2019, just eight months before his passing.
Following his death, the Edmonton Oilers established the 'Colby Cave Memorial Fund' to support community initiatives.
His younger brother, Cody Cave, also pursued a professional hockey career.
He wore number 12 for the Boston Bruins.
“I just want to be known as a good teammate and a guy who worked hard.”
