Oilers final training camp scrimmage dedicated to Cave's memory

On Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers will hold their final scrimmage of training camp and it will be dedicated to the memory of Colby Cave.

The team announced that for the scrimmage, all players will be wearing Cave's No. 12. Jerseys will be auctioned by the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and proceeds will benefit the Colby Cave Memorial Fund.

Cave died in April four days after he had surgery to remove a colloid cyst that was causing pressure on his brain. The veteran of three NHL seasons was 25 years old.

"I was fortunate enough to know Colby for a long time. We were drafted by the same Western League team in the same year, he was a first-round pick and I was a second-round pick. I knew him in the Bruins organization and then obviously here," Oilers defenseman Matt Benning said. "He was an unbelievable human and he'll be missed in our locker room. We talked as a group that we wanted to do something here and he'll be right there with us... The game on Saturday will be special and with the proceeds going to the foundation, his wife is working hard with that and she's still talking a lot with the Oilers wives and being involved that way, it brings together the family piece of it."

The sentiment was echoed by former teammates and his coach during a video call Thursday.

"It's going to be a huge honor. He's deeply missed. When I was in Bakerfield, I was fortunate enough to get to know him fairly well," Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto said. "He would come over to our house and kind of just hang out with us. We got to know him and [his wife] Emily and he's one of the best guys I had ever met, always had a smile on his face, never a dull moment. He would bring over Emily and his dog and he would be ripping around all over the house. Colby would always be getting mad at him. But he was one of the best people that I'd ever met. He was taken away from us way too soon and I'm just praying for his family."

"I think Colby is always in everybody's thoughts... Colby was a great teammate and a great friend to a lot of these guys. I think they really want to pay their respects with everybody wanting to wear Colby's number," Oilers coach Dave Tippett said. "He was a great teammate a good friend to everybody and we thought this game would pay great respect to him and his family. I think the players are looking forward to it. They respected everything that Colby brought to our team... The foundation that has been put in place in Colby's name, the players care about that and they want to see them help people that Colby would have wanted to help.

"It's a very meaningful game for them."

Cave's wife, Emily, said she each player will find a note and token of her appreciation in their lockers when they arrive at the game.

"That's my way of thanking them for the support they've given, wish them good luck and let them know Colby is proud of his teammates and brothers, and we can't wait to cheer them on," she said Friday.