Cole Caufield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cole Caufield
Caufield with the Montreal Canadiens in November 2021
Born	(2001-01-02) January 2, 2001 (age 24) Mosinee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position	Winger
Shoots	Right
NHL team	Montreal Canadiens
National team	United States
NHL Draft	15th overall, 2019 Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	2021–present

Cole Caufield was born on January 2, 2001. He is an American professional ice hockey player. He plays as a winger for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canadiens picked him 15th overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Before joining the NHL, Cole played college hockey for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He played during the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons. In 2021, he won the Hobey Baker Award. This award goes to the best college ice hockey player. He also led the NCAA in goals and points that season.

Cole has played for the United States in many international tournaments. He won a gold medal at the 2017 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He also won a gold medal at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Cole's Early Life and Hockey Start

Cole Caufield was born in Mosinee, Wisconsin. His family loved hockey, and he started skating when he was just two years old. Besides hockey, he also played baseball and football as a kid. His dad taught him to shoot the puck from the right side. He believed this gave right-handed shots a better chance to score against a goalie's glove hand.

Cole played for Team Wisconsin and Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH). He scored 75 goals and 145 points in two seasons. In 2017, he joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) in Plymouth, Michigan.

In his first year with the USNTDP, Cole scored 54 goals and 26 assists. He almost broke the single-season goal record of 55. He also decided to play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

In the 2018–19 season, Cole scored 72 goals and 28 assists. He broke the all-time USNTDP goal record, which was held by Phil Kessel. He also broke the single-season goal record.

Before the 2019 NHL entry draft, many thought Cole was a top player. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him eighth among North American skaters. On June 21, 2019, the Montreal Canadiens picked him 15th overall. After being drafted, he went to the Canadiens' training camp.

Playing in College

Cole played for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2019 to 2021. This was part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

First Years at Wisconsin (2019-2021)

In his first year, the 2019–20 season, he scored 19 goals and 17 assists in 36 games. He led the Big Ten in goals scored. He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and All-First Team. He also won the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award.

Even with the COVID-19 pandemic causing uncertainty for the 2020–21 NCAA season, Cole decided to return to Wisconsin. He felt it was "the best thing for me...to come back, get another year, get stronger and faster and dominate more and become more of a leader."

In his second season, Cole led the entire NCAA with 30 goals and 52 points in 31 games. He became the first player to win the Big Ten scoring title two years in a row. He was also named to the AHCA First-Team All-American. On April 9, 2021, Cole won the Hobey Baker Award. This award goes to the top NCAA Division I men's ice hockey player.

Professional Hockey Career

Starting in the NHL (2021-2023)

On March 27, 2021, the Montreal Canadiens signed Cole to a three-year contract. After college, he first played for the Canadiens' minor league team, the Laval Rocket. He played his first professional game on April 9, scoring two goals and one assist.

Cole made his NHL debut for the Canadiens on April 26, 2021. On May 1, he scored his first NHL goal in an overtime win. Two days later, he became only the third player in NHL history to score his first two career goals in overtime. He finished his first regular season with four goals and one assist in ten games.

Cole played in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs. He scored his first NHL playoff goal on June 14. He helped the Canadiens reach the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He had 12 points (four goals and eight assists) in 20 playoff games. This was one of the best playoff performances by a Canadiens rookie. He also became the first rookie in league history to get three overtime points in one postseason.

At the start of the 2021–22 NHL season, Cole had a tough time. He only had one assist in his first ten games. He was sent to play for the Laval Rocket for a short time. After Martin St. Louis became the new head coach in February 2022, Cole's play improved a lot. He started playing on the top line with Nick Suzuki. He scored six goals and four assists in his next seven games.

On March 15, Cole scored two goals in eight seconds against the Arizona Coyotes. This was the fastest two-goal performance for the Canadiens since 1987. He was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for March 2022. He finished the season with 23 goals.

Caufield during the 2022–23 Montreal Canadiens season

The 2022–23 season was a rebuilding year for the Canadiens. Cole and Suzuki played well together. On December 1, Cole played his 100th NHL game and scored his 40th career goal. Only a few Canadiens legends scored 40 goals faster than him. On January 21, it was announced that Cole needed shoulder surgery. This ended his season early after he scored 26 goals and 10 assists in 46 games.

Recent Seasons (2023-Present)

Before the 2023–24 season, Cole signed a new eight-year contract with the Canadiens on June 5, 2023. He set new personal bests with 28 goals and 65 points that season. His line with Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovský played very well together.

In September 2024, Cole changed his jersey number from 22 to 13. He did this to honor Johnny Gaudreau, who had passed away. Gaudreau was an inspiration for smaller players like Cole. On December 31, 2024, Cole scored his 100th career NHL goal. On February 25, 2025, he reached 200 career NHL points. He was one of the fastest Canadiens players to reach this milestone in over three decades. On April 14, Cole got his 100th career NHL assist.

Playing for Team USA

Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold	2021 Canada
World U18 Championships
Bronze	2019 Sweden
Silver	2018 Russia
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
Gold	2017 Canada

In 2017, Cole played in the 2017 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He scored eight goals and five assists in six games. He helped the United States win a gold medal. He was named to the U17 WHC All-Star Team. He also helped his country win gold at the 2017 Four Nations Cup. At the 2018 IIHF World U-18 Championship, he won a silver medal.

Cole continued to play well internationally. In late 2018, Team USA won the 2018 Five Nations Cup. Cole scored seven goals and two assists in four games. On April 27, 2019, Cole tied Alex Ovechkin's record for most goals in a single tournament. He scored 14 goals at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championship. The team won a bronze medal. Cole was named the Most Valuable Player and Best Forward of the tournament.

Cole joined the junior national team for the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He scored two goals and three assists in seven games. He helped the United States win a gold medal.

After the 2023–24 NHL season, Cole played for the senior national team for the first time. This was at the 2024 IIHF World Championship. He scored two goals against Poland. The American team was eliminated in the quarterfinal.

Cole's Family Life

Cole has an older brother named Brock. Brock also played for the Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team. He currently plays for the Cincinnati Cyclones. Their father, Paul, played hockey for the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. He is still the team's all-time leading scorer. Paul later became an assistant coach and now manages the Ice Hawks Arena.

Cole's grandfather, Wayne, was also a hockey player. He played semi-professional hockey from 1963 to 1976. He is in the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame since 2011. Wayne coached youth hockey for over twenty years. He passed away on July 13, 2018, at 75 years old.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2017	United States	U17			6	8	5	13	0
2018	United States	U18			7	4	2	6	0
2019	United States	U18			7	14	4	18	4
2020	United States	WJC	6th		5	1	1	2	0
2021	United States	WJC			7	2	3	5	2
2024	United States	WC	5th		8	4	4	8	2
Junior totals					32	29	15	44	6
Senior totals					8	4	4	8	2

Awards and Honors

Records and Achievements

USA Hockey National Team Development Program:

• Most goals in a regular season: 72 (2018–19)

IIHF World U18 Championships:

• Most goals by a U.S. skater: 18 (2018, 2019)
  • Most goals in a single tournament: 14 (2019)

National Hockey League:

• Most overtime points by a rookie in a single playoff year: 3 (2021)