Leafs’ Ekman-Larsson, Stolarz, Lorentz receive Stanley Cup rings in special ceremony
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steven Lorentz and Anthony Stolarz, the three Leafs players who suited up for the Panthers last season, received their Stanley Cup championship rings in a special ceremony before the game against their former team on Wednesday.
Sometimes the stars just align.
Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored his 13th goal of the season Wednesday night and the goal carries some extra special meaning.
Caufield scored the goal in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, the same team his idol Johnny Gaudreau played for.
Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed this summer when they were struck by an alleged drunk driver while riding their bikes near their hometown.
Caufield switched his jersey from No. 22 to No. 13 in honour of Gaudreau following the news of his death.
“He paved the way for smaller players and proved we had a future in this game at the highest level,” Caufield wrote on Instagram in announcing the switch. “I will forever be grateful to him for inspiring me and others.”
For that reason, it’s fitting that Caufield’s 13th goal came beneath the No. 13 banner that now hangs in the rafters of Nationwide Arena.