Ex-Swift Current Broncos star Colby Cave in medically induced coma

Former Swift Current Broncos captain Colby Cave has been placed in a medically induced coma after suffering a brain bleed.

Cave, a 25-year-old from Battleford, split last season between the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers and the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.

The Oilers said on their Twitter account Tuesday that the brain bleed happened overnight and that Cave was in the critical care unit at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital.

“Colby is an awesome person who scored an awesome goal for us this season,” the team said in reference to a goal he scored against the Pittsburgh Penguins. “The entire Oilers family is sending you all our love and strength right now.”

Cave’s agent, Jason Davidson, confirmed in an email to The Canadian Press that the situation doesn’t appear to be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cave played four full WHL seasons (2011-12 through ’14-15) with the Broncos, recording 95 goals and 107 assists in 286 regular-season games. He was Swift Current’s captain for two seasons.

He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Boston Bruins and spent most of the next three seasons with their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.

“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with alum Colby Cave, his wife Emily, his friends, family and all of the lives Caver has touched,” the Broncos said on Twitter.

Cave played 20 games with Boston during the 2018-19 NHL season, but was put on waivers in January of 2019. He was claimed by the Oilers and spent the past season and a half in their organization.

He has four goals and five assists over 67 NHL games with Boston and Edmonton.

— With files from The Canadian Press