EDMONTON -- The world of hockey gathered Saturday to mourn the death of Edmonton Oilers forward Colby Cave, who died after suffering a brain bleed earlier this week.
“He just couldn’t overcome it, which is so sad and devastating,” former Oiler Mark Lamb told CTV News.
The 25-year-old native of Battleford, Sask., was placed in a medically-induced coma on Tuesday at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. He was airlifted to Toronto after being admitted to a hospital in Barrie, Ont., on Monday.
Lamb coached Cave for four years while he played in the Western Hockey League for the Swift Current Broncos.
“In his short time here he made a big difference. He affected a lot of people because of the positive way that he lives his life, the energy that he brought and how he treated people,” said Lamb. “It was just right from his heart how he treated people.”
Lamb's comments were echoed by a flurry of prominent faces from the NHL.
Janet and I are so sad to hear of Colby’s passing. He was a wonderful hockey player with a bright future, but an even better person. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Emily and his entire family. ��
— Wayne Gretzky (@WayneGretzky) April 11, 2020
Statement from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on the passing of Colby Cave. https://t.co/Uk56BzS7qk pic.twitter.com/06V3AFQPra
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 11, 2020
RIP Colby Cave... heartbreaking to hear the news this morning, he was always a player that competed hard and played the right way in my time playing against him. Thoughts and prayers to his family and loved ones during this time ����
— Blake Coleman (@BColes25) April 11, 2020
“All of our love to them.”
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) April 9, 2020
Mark Borowiecki extends his well wishes to @EdmontonOilers forward Colby Cave in his recovery. pic.twitter.com/ISblMyEGnA
Our deepest condolences go out to Colby Cave's family, friends, and the Edmonton Oilers organization. Rest in peace.
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) April 11, 2020
“Obviously he’s going to a better spot because there was nobody that lived life as positive as Colby did,” said Lamb.
“For him not to be able to fight through this and to lose him so early, it was just something he couldn’t overcome.”
With files from The Canadian Press
