Tag: Cole Caufield

WATCH: Former Wisconsin Badger scores Montreal Canadiens’ first goal of 2024-25 NHL season

WATCH: Former Wisconsin Badger scores Montreal Canadiens’ first goal of 2024-25 NHL season

Former Wisconsin Badger Cole Caufield scored the Montreal Canadiens’ first goal of the 2024-25 NHL season on Wednesday.

His tally came on a power play with 12 minutes remaining in the first period. He took a cross pass from a teammate behind the net, then fit the puck through a narrow window as the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender attempted to recover.

The former Badger tallied that one point on seven total shots in 17:43 of ice time in the Canadiens’ 1-0 win over the Maple Leafs. His goal was technically the game-winner as it was the only scored in the contest.

The opening night performance is a strong start to Caufield’s fifth NHL season. The former Badger has not quite recaptured the form that saw him light up the hockey world during the 2021 NHL playoffs — four goals and eight assists in only 12 games as the Canadiens’ made a run to the Stanley Cup Final.

Caufield most recently played all 82 games in the Canadiens’ 2023-24 campaign, totaling 28 goals and 37 assists for 65 total points in an average of 19:25 minutes of ice time. His start to 2024-25 may signal that those numbers are set to rise.

Caufield played for the Badgers from 2019-2021. He led the Badgers Big Ten-winning 2019 team with 19 goals and 17 assists in 36 games. Those tallies earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten team for that season.

The talented wing improved dramatically entering his final collegiate season in 2021. He tallied 30 goals and 52 total points in 31 games, again leading the Big Ten in goals and earning a spot on the All-Big Ten team. That fantastic output in 2021 also earned him AHCA First-Team All-American honors and the Hobey Baker Award for the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player.

He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens after the 2021 season, leading to where things stand today.

Caufield and the Canadiens are looking to snap a three-year playoff drought that dates back to the team’s Stanley Cup Final run in 2021. Caufield’s potential emergence would be big news for that quest.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Former Wisconsin hockey star throws out first pitch at Milwaukee Brewers game

Former Wisconsin hockey star throws out first pitch at Brewers game

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey forward Cole Caufield threw out the first pitch at the Milwaukee Brewers game against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. The 23-year-old spent two seasons with the Badgers from 2019-2021.

Caufield scored 49 goals while also adding 39 assists over 67 games during his time in Madison, Wisconsin. He got to play alongside his older brother Brock Caufield, as the two brothers helped lead the Badgers to a Big Ten regular-season title in Cole’s final year on campus.

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound athlete was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens with the 15th overall selection in the 2019 NHL Draft and reported to the team after his two campaigns in Madison.

Caufield has now completed four seasons in the league, most recently playing in all 82 games in 2023-2024, compiling 65 total points (28 goals and 37 assists).

A native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Caufield has remained active in his home state, including his appearance at the Brewers game Saturday.

Wisconsin announces their two ‘Athletes of the Year’

Wisconsin announced their two ‘Athletes of the Year’ earlier today

When you think of Wisconsin athletics, the first things that come to mind include a packed Camp Randall Stadium, an old-school style of football, battles at the Kohl Center and a general excellence across a large variety of sports.

The first thought isn’t normally about the men’s and women’s hockey teams, though the two programs are some of the school and the country’s best.

Earlier today, Wisconsin announced their ‘Athletes of the Year’ are former men’s hockey star and current Montreal Canadien Cole Caufield and women’s hockey star Daryl Watts.

The pair will now serve as Wisconsin’s nominees for the Big Ten Conference Athlete of the Year award.

The list of accolades for both skaters is extremely long, though highlights include Caufield’s 2021 Hobey Baker Memorial Award for the nation’s top men’s hockey player and Watts’ first-team All-America honors and National Championship-winning goal.

Oh, and Caufield has done quite a bit since stepping foot on NHL ice.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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WATCH: Canadiens rookie Cole Caufield scores his first playoff goal

The former Badger is playing great hockey for Montreal

Just a few short months ago, Wisconsin star Cole Caufield was leading the Badgers and racking up Big Ten/national awards in college hockey. Tonight, he scored his first playoff goal for the Montreal Canadiens.

In the opening game of the NHL Conference Finals between Caufield’s Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights, the former Badger cut the deficit in half in the second period:

Caufield had three assists in Montreal’s previous round sweep of the Winnipeg Jets and looks to help get the Canadiens their first Stanley Cup since the 1992-1993 season.

Toronto Maple Leafs lose heartbreaker one minute into overtime after giving up a 2-on-0 breakaway goal

This one has to sting for the Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have to be kicking themselves after letting this chance get away from them. On Thursday, during the Maple Leafs’ game against the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto had been able to mount a comeback to get their elimination Game 5 into overtime, but disaster struck within the first minute of the extra frame.

A costly turnover in the Canadiens offensive zone turned into a 2-on-0 situation for Montreal with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki leading the charge. After a few passes back and forth, Suzuki was the one to get the puck past Jack Campbell to spoil Toronto’s comeback and stave off elimination with the 4-3 win.

It’s as devastating as it sounds if you’re a Maple Leafs fan, as Toronto had the chance to put Montreal away for their first playoff series win since 2003-04, but instead bungled away the game on this misplay.

To make things worse, the Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-0 deficit in the last 35 minutes of the game to force overtime, putting the Canadiens on the brink of elimination when this blunder occurred in the first minute of overtime.

Toronto will have another chance at knocking off Montreal on Saturday when the two teams face off in Game 6, but this one has to sting for the Maple Leafs and their fans.

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Canadiens’ Cole Caufield was over the moon after scoring his first NHL goal in overtime

A beautiful goal in a clutch moment.

There’s no better time to get your first NHL goal than in overtime, and Cole Caufield delivered. The Montreal Canadiens’ 20-year-old rookie netted his first NHL goal on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators in a pivotal overtime, and he was absolutely ecstatic about it.

With the Canadiens and Senators tied 2-2 in overtime, Montreal possessed the puck and entered the zone in the three-on-three frame. Defenseman Jeff Petry was then able to slip around a Senator and pass the puck on his backhand to Caufield, who was at the right place at the right time to tap it in for his first NHL goal.

It was a beautiful play all around, as Caufield’s tip past Filip Gustavsson in net went up and over the goaltender’s outstretched glove.

The goal was great, as was Caufield’s reaction to it, as the rookie looked over the moon to score such an important goal for his first in the NHL, with no doubt more to come.

The goal from Caufield completed a Canadiens comeback after the team went down 2-0 in the third period. Montreal was able to score twice in six minutes to force overtime, which set Caufield up for his incredible first NHL goal.

The overtime win for Montreal also knocks the Senators out of playoff contention while basically assuring the Canadiens postseason spot in the process. What a game and what a night for Caufield!

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Wisconsin hockey’s Cole Caufield named Big Ten freshman of the year

The future Montreal Canadian earned high honors in the Big Ten this season

Despite a rocky year for Wisconsin hockey, their star freshman is getting the conference love that he deserves. Earlier today, Cole Caufield was named Big Ten freshman of the year and named to the All-Big Ten first team.

Caufield took the nation by storm early and often this season. The star forward was a first round draft pick of the Montreal Canadians in last years NHL entry draft.

USATSI_12937517.jpgHe went on to score two goals in his first three career games at Wisconsin. Overall, Caufield finished with 19 goals and 36 points, both team highs. Wisconsin ended up going just 14-20-2 despite a plethora of NHL talent on the roster.

Wisconsin defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk also was named to the Big Ten first team.