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(Photo: Steve Babineau / NHLI via Getty Images)

By: Patrick Donnelly | Follow me on Twitter @PatDonn12

Edmonton Oilers forward and former Boston Bruin Colby Cave died on Saturday morning after being hospitalized for a brain bleed earlier this week. He was 25.

Cave’s wife, Emily, confirmed the news through a statement on Saturday morning, saying “Both our families are in shock but know our Colby was loved dearly by us, his family and friends, the entire hockey community and many more.”

Cave was put into a medically induced coma after being airlifted to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto and having surgery to remove a colloid cyst, which was causing pressure on his brain. Earlier in the week Emily Cave said in an Instagram that the family could not visit the hospital due to the COVID-19 crisis and post that the family needed a “miracle.”

Cave skated in 67 career NHL games over four seasons with the Oilers and Bruins, posting four goals and five assists for nine points. In 11 games with Edmonton this season, Cave scored one goal.

With Boston, the Battleford, Sask. native tallied 1-4-5 totals in 23 games. Originally an undrafted free agent, Cave signed a three-year entry level contract with the Bruins in April 2015. His NHL debut came on Dec. 21, 2017.

Cave scored his first NHL goal on Dec. 17, 2018, in the Bruins 4-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Edmonton claimed him off waivers during the 2018-19 campaign.

Cave skated in 283 American Hockey League contests over six seasons between the Bakersfield Condors (2019-20), Edmonton’s AHL affiliate, and the Providence Bruins (2015-2019), Boston’s AHL affiliate, where he served as an assistant captain for three seasons.

This season with the Condors, he had 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 44 games. On his career, Cave posted 54-84-138 numbers in the AHL.