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 (born January 2, 2001) is an American ice hockey player. He plays as a winger for the Montreal Canadiens. This team is part of 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. He played for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was very successful there. He won the Hobey Baker Award in 2021. This award goes to the best college hockey player.

Cole has also played for the United States in many tournaments. He won a gold medal at the 2017 U17 World Hockey Challenge. He also won gold at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Cole Caufield's Early Life and Hockey Start

Cole Caufield was born in Mosinee, Wisconsin. He started skating when he was just two years old. His family loved hockey, and he played other sports too. His dad taught him to shoot the puck from the right side. This was because it gave him a better angle to score.

Cole played for local teams like Team Wisconsin. He scored many goals in his early years. In 2017, he joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP). This program helps young players become better.

Setting Records in Youth Hockey

In his first year with the USNTDP, Cole scored 54 goals. This was almost a record for the team. He also decided to play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin.

In the 2018–19 season, Cole scored an amazing 72 goals. This broke the all-time USNTDP goal record. It was previously held by famous players like Phil Kessel.

Before the 2019 NHL entry draft, experts thought Cole was a top player. The Montreal Canadiens chose him 15th overall. This was a big moment for him.

Playing Career Highlights

College Hockey Success (2019–2021)

Cole played for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2019 to 2021. In his first year (2019–20), he led his conference in goals. He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He also made the All-Freshman Team.

Even with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting sports, Cole decided to stay in college. He wanted to get stronger and faster. This decision paid off in his second year (2020–21).

He led all college players with 30 goals and 52 points. He won the Big Ten scoring title again. He also won the Hobey Baker Award. This made him the best college hockey player in the country.

Starting His Professional Journey (2021–Present)

After college, Cole signed a contract with the Montreal Canadiens. He first played for their minor league team, the Laval Rocket. He scored two goals and an assist in his first game.

Soon, he was called up to the Canadiens. He made his NHL debut on April 26, 2021. A few days later, he scored his first NHL goal. He even scored his first two goals in overtime, which is very rare!

Playoff Debut and Records

Cole played in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs. He scored his first playoff goal against the Vegas Golden Knights. He helped the Canadiens reach the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals.

In those playoffs, he set a record for rookies. He had 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists). Only two other Canadiens rookies had more points in a single postseason. He also became the first rookie to get three overtime points in one playoff run.

Finding His Stride (2021–2023)

The next season (2021–22) started slowly for Cole. But when Martin St. Louis became the new coach, things changed. Cole started playing on the top line with Nick Suzuki.

He quickly improved, scoring many goals. He even scored two goals in eight seconds in one game! This was one of the fastest two-goal performances in Canadiens history. He was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for March 2022.

Cole finished that season with 23 goals. In the final game, he scored his first career hat-trick.

Caufield during the 2022–23 Montreal Canadiens season

The 2022–23 season was a strong one for Cole. He continued to play well with Nick Suzuki. He scored his 40th NHL goal in his 100th career game. This put him in a special group of Canadiens legends.

Unfortunately, his season ended early due to a shoulder injury. He had surgery to fix it.

New Contract and Continued Growth (2023–Present)

In June 2023, Cole signed a big new contract with the Canadiens. It was for eight years and $62.8 million. He hoped to continue his strong scoring.

Even though he had some challenges recovering from surgery, he still set new personal bests. He scored 28 goals and had 65 points in the 2023–24 season. He also improved his play without the puck.

In September 2024, Cole changed his jersey number to 13. He did this to honor Johnny Gaudreau, a player who inspired him. On December 31, 2024, Cole scored his 100th career NHL goal.

Playing for Team USA

Cole has proudly represented the United States in many international tournaments.

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, he helped the U.S. win a gold medal at the 2017 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He scored the most goals in that tournament.

At the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships, Cole scored 14 goals. This tied a record for the most goals in a single tournament. He won a bronze medal and was named the Most Valuable Player.

He also won a gold medal with the junior national team at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

In 2024, Cole played for the senior national team at the 2024 IIHF World Championship. He scored his first goals at the senior level in that tournament.

Cole Caufield's Family Life

Cole comes from a family of hockey players. His older brother, Brock, also played college hockey. Their father, Paul, was a top scorer for his college team. He later became a coach and manager.

Cole's grandfather, Wayne Caufield, was also a hockey player. He played semi-professional hockey for many years. He is even in the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame. He also coached youth hockey for over two decades.

Career Statistics

International Play Statistics

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

Awards and Honors

Records

USA Hockey National Team Development Program:

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

IIHF World U18 Championships:

• Most goals: 18 (2018, 2019)
  • Most goals, single tournament: 14 (2019)

National Hockey League:

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