Members of the hockey community joined the Battlefords region in remembering Colby Cave over the past two days. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW)

By Josh Ryan

A coach's dream athlete

Hockey community remembers Colby Cave

Apr 14, 2020 | 3:32 PM

The tremendous outpouring of support for Colby Cave’s family continues from people throughout the hockey world.

The Cave family has been overwhelmed by the condolences and respectful words from former players, coaches and organizations according to family friend Bob Bartkewich who relayed the sentiment from Cave’s father, Al.

“Several different teams that Colby really had no connection to had reached out to him [Colby’s father],” said Bartkewich. “Wayne Gretzky, Gary Bettman, the list goes on and on.”

Cave passed away at the age of 25 on Saturday following a brain bleed. Former coaches and players aren’t surprised by the praises being spoken of the short life Cave lived. Oilers alumni Mark Lamb coached the power forward when he played for the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL. He said everyone was drawn to the Battleford native.

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“He had that special personality that really belonged in a team game,” said Lamb, “And it wasn’t just at the rink, it was off the ice as well.”

Over four seasons, Cave increased his production as a Bronco, finishing with 75 points in his last WHL campaign – more than four times his rookie total. However, it was his leadership and poise that made him particularly valuable to the team.

“When the game was on the line, he was a player you could rely on,” said Lamb. “And that was from a young age.”

Cave’s minor hockey coaches agree. He finished second and first in scoring over two years with the Battlefords Midget AAA Stars and his assistant coach at the time, Greg Schmidt remembered knowing Cave was going to be special, even though he’d only worked with him a short time.

“He just did everything well,” said Schmidt. “He had an incredible work ethic and was very likeable. Those types of people have nothing but success in the pro hockey world.”

Cave’s former coach Martin Smith also had a front seat view of his success in midget hockey but his favourite example of the power forward’s work ethic came years later. One summer, after Cave had joined the Providence Bruins of the AHL, he returned to the Battlefords to train over the summer. At a conditioning camp Smith was running, he remembers asking the group what they wanted to do with the remainder of their training time. The one professional in attendance, Cave set the tone for the younger players.

“With fifteen minutes left, I asked the guys if they want to scrimmage three-on-three or skate,” said Smith. “Colby was the first guy to say ‘let’s skate,’ so we skated. The next year, Colby wasn’t there and when I asked the same question the guys said ‘let’s skate.’”

That hard work ethic translated to other sports and ventures. Lyndon Heinemann, who coached Cave in football through junior high, saw promise in the young running back and thought he could have found success there, as well as in the classroom, had his journey not taken him to professional hockey.

“He had good intelligence, good biomechanical skill, he was strong quick, eager to learn,” said Heinemann. “We talk about coachability a lot, but his eagerness to learn was really incredible.”

Cave showed necessary toughness in football, but his kindness also stood out. Heinemann said that was part of what made him a great leader.

“He was the first one to come over to somebody on the sidelines, at practice or a game, when they were hurt, and give words of encouragement,” said Heinemann. “That was Colby and it’s certainly a credit to his parents and how they raised him.”

Several coaches and players discussed how Cave was impacted by getting to meet the late NHL enforcer Wade Belak at a young age and displayed that in his interactions with younger players and kids as he grew older. Smith said Cave knew what it was like to be a young kid growing up in the Battlefords and was the “model role model.” Whether it was taking time to provide guidance to prospective minor hockey players or help youngsters put their gear on, his actions constantly impressed the adults who witnessed him.

“As an NHL player, he was a role player,” said Smith. “But as a person, Colby’s a superstar.”

(Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

And that quality is what those closest to him will miss the most.

“He always looked after kids and he just had this infectious smile,” said Bartkewich. “He was… just, this great guy that you couldn’t help but want to be around.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports