Edmonton Oilers and Bakersfield Condors forward Colby Cave is out of surgery but remains in critical care at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.
The update came from the Oilers on Tuesday afternoon after it was announced earlier in the day that Cave had suffered a brain bleed overnight and was rushed to the hospital.
According to the team, doctors removed a colloid cyst that was causing pressure on his brain. He remained in a medically-induced coma as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“Please keep Colby and his wife Emily in your thoughts and prayers at this time,” the club said Tuesday morning.
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Cave, 25, had been playing with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors when the hockey season was placed on pause. He played 11 games with the Edmonton Oilers in 2019/20.
On Tuesday afternoon, his wife Emily issued a statement.
“Last night and today have been the worst days in my life,” she wrote. “We need a miracle. Please pray for my husband.”
Other players and teams around the two leagues posted online about the situation as well.
Former Oilers forward Sam Gagner had nothing but good things to say about his former teammate.
“He really is a fantastic person,” Gagner said. “We are all thinking about you.”
Fellow Condors player Keegan Lowe posted to his Twitter account, asking fans to send their best wishes Cave’s way.
“Thinking of our boy Caver in these tough times,” he wrote. “Everyone send your strength and prayers to him, his wife Emily and his family.”
The Condors posted their own tribute to their player.
“All love, Cave Man,” the team wrote.
Cave is from North Battleford, Sask. The Oilers claimed him off waivers from the Boston Bruins on Jan. 15, 2019.