Colby Cave passes away at age 25 2020-04-11 The Elite Hockey Experience mourns the loss of Colby Cave, who passed away this morning at the age of 25. He had been in a medically-induced coma since Tuesday. "It is with great sadness to share the news that our Colby Cave passed away early this morning," Cave's wife, Emily, wrote in a statement posted to Twitter by TSN1260's Jason Gregor. "I (Emily) and 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. We thank everyone for their prayers during this difficult time." Cave suffered an brain bleed late Monday night and was airlifted to a hospital. Doctors performed emergency surgery on Tuesday to remove a colloid cyst that was causing pressure on his brain. He had since been in a medically-induced coma. Emily provided updates throughout the week on her Instagram explaining how dire the situation was. Cave's agent, Jason Davidson, said Tuesday that the situation didn't appear to be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. A player of the New York Rangers organization this season in the Elite Hockey Experience, Cave last played on Monday night for the Hartford Wolf Pack, whom he rejoined after playing the last two seasons with the Colorado Eagles. Cave is the first active player to pass away since the league formed in 2014. Breaking the fourth wall here, this news is absolutely crushing to me. It's a very difficult article for me to find words for. His wife has has had some devastating posts on Instagram, none more than the one she posted this morning laying next to Colby after he had passed. Cave's family needs a lot of love right now. As I player, I saw him several times the past two seasons. This season in particular, he was easily the most noticeable player on the ice for the Condors. I don't think I saw him lose one faceoff against the Barracuda this season. Repeatedly the first man in on the forecheck and setting up plays. A lot of players are speaking of the character he had and how well-liked he was. Cave made some news at the beginning of the season because of a fight he had where Martin Pospisil was seriously injured. Pospisil shared a tweet where Cave had reached out to him right afterward. I will end this with a tweet from @JoeHutzal - Talk of Colby Cave's exemplary character is not overstated. Here he was going out of his way to make the experience memorable by talking to my boy and his teammates during pre game. He didn't have to do it, but he wanted to. His wife and family can be proud. Rest in peace, Colby.