Colorado Avalanche History: Cup-Winning Goal of 1996
The Colorado Avalanche swept the Florida Panthers on June 11, 1996 in the Stanley Cup Finals. Defenseman Uwe Krupp scored the game-winning goal.
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Exactly 20 years ago today, in the wee hours of the morning, the Colorado Avalanche secured a victory that brought the first-ever major sports championship to Colorado. They won the Stanley Cup.
The team was just nine months into their tenure here in Colorado, though the franchise had been relocated from Quebec earlier in the summer. We here in Colorado were still trying to figure out what this hockey stuff was. We’d had it before, but not like this. Never like this.
This was a special team filled with superstars whose names we still whisper with reverence. Peter Forsberg. Joe Sakic. Patrick Roy. Sandis Ozolinsh. Valery Kamensky.
And it all came about because of a stay-at-home defenseman, a 6-foot-6 German named Uwe Krupp.
To be honest, the game itself wasn’t the most exciting. I mean, we’re talking 104 minutes and 31 seconds of no scoring. Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy was putting on a show, stopping 63 shots. Florida Panther goalie John Vanbiesbrouk was not slouch himself, stopping 55.
It was that 56th shot that got him:
Four minutes and 31 seconds into the third overtime, Uwe Krupp beat Vanbiesbrouk. Third overtime — remember, they were in the third period of their second full game.
Watching Vanbiesbrouk drop, you almost feel sorry for him. Almost. I feel a lot worse when it’s Avalanche players who drop after a devastating loss like that.
On the flip side, watching the Colorado players react with complete euphoria after winning makes me much happier. Here’s video that includes the players passing around the Stanley Cup:
I remember that moment so well. It was a Tuesday morning — wee hours of the morning, as I noted above. I had to work later that day. But as I watched the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup, I heard the city erupt. I had to go out and join the revelries.
I didn’t riot, but here’s some video of how excited we all were:
Ok, the violence was bad. But the rest of it gives you a feeling for how much of the euphoria we shared with the players.
Uwe Krupp — of all players. He played three seasons for the Colorado Avalanche, earning just 13 regular season goals in that time. If not for that fateful slapshot, we might not remember him completely.
Winger Adam Deadmarsh, who spent many of his Avalanche years on a line with Peter Forsberg, was on the ice when Krupp made the goal. He talked to 5280 about his memories of that game:
"“We were up 3–0 in the series, and whenever you’re up 3–0, you pretty much think you have it. But as those overtimes clicked on, guys were changing jerseys and gloves and everything because they’re all sweaty and soaking-wet. After we won, the thing I remember most was [winger] Mike Keane keeping his equipment on for the entire night and the plane ride home.”"
It kills me to remember that 20 years ago — and 15 years ago — the Colorado Avalanche weren’t just playing spring hockey, they were playing into June. And they were winning. But at least we have those memories — which is more than some teams have.
Next: What is a Stanley Cup Attitude?
And though I love the symbolism represented by the 2001 Stanley Cup victory, when captain Joe Sakic handed the Cup to Ray Bourque, the 1996 win will always be my favorite. You never forget your first.