Colorado Avalanche 20-Year Anniversary: How Does it Relate to You?

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

TheHockeyWriters.com just released a great article, discussing 20 moments over the past 20 years in Colorado Avalanche history. These moments are not necessarily the greatest moments, but certainly do not lack in importance and overall impact. However, I figured that we here at MHS could do our own version, one that includes the fan, and their insight into 20 of our own moments.

This is a post for the fans by a fan because 20 years is a big deal. Perhaps you’ve only been a fan for half those years, maybe all of them, or possibly just a few years; either way, we all have a plethora of memorable moments. I’ll start off with five of mine, and then we’ll jump into a series of five polls with 4 moments on each. These polls directly correlate to specific eras in Colorado Avalanche history.

I have this idea to determine what the fans dub as the greatest moment from my options by doing a subsequent post every week, after this one, until the final moment is chosen. So, next week Thursday we should have narrowed it down to five moments (one for each poll). Then from here I’ll be counting down the moments until the season starts, so join in the fun folks because it’s about to begin.

In light of this exciting 20-year anniversary, I decided to start with a quick punch of the 5 most defining moments in Colorado Avalanche history to my estimation. It must be noted, that I was born in 1991, so my memory of the team starts around the late 90’s, but mostly with the early 2000’s.

First of all, it also must be noted that these moments are specific to the Colorado Avalanche; thus, the Eric Lindros trade (certainly the most defining moment in Colorado Avalanche history) has no place here because it was a transaction of the Quebec Nordiques, even though this trade is the past, present, and future of the Colorado Avalanche. If you are intrigued with this trade, and would like to know how it impacted the Colorado Avalanche, follow this link.

Next: Memorable Moments 5 & 4 for an Older Tyke

An Older Tyke’s Moments: #’s 5 & 4

Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado Avalanche Moment #5

This moment for me is quite bland, but it’s got to be the signing of Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic to the front office. Although we are still relatively fresh in the aftermath of these decisions, to this point I am pleased with the way these two are contributing to hockey operations.

Patrick Roy is a great coach, and his determination will one day bring the cup back to Colorado, here’s *raises his Bud Light to the online readership* to hoping that it’s sooner rather than later.

Colorado Avalanche Moment #4

Making the playoffs in the 2013-14 season was a dream come true for me. I was in the midst of finals for my University, (Montana State) and so I had obligations. However, nothing could keep me from making it to 3 out of the 4 Home games. The first two home games I made it to happened to be the games in which Nathan MacKinnon put up 7 points throughout the 2.

Even though this is a small example of what MacKinnon can do on the ice, I have to say that watching him in that form was truly special, especially his 4 point night in the second game. Here’s my favorite part about those games, broken ankles:

Next: Memorable Moments 3-1 for a Young Tyke

A Younger Tyke’s Moments: #’s 3-1

View image | gettyimages.com

Colorado Avalanche Moment #3

This one is easy, Adam Foote’s final shift was something to behold. There are no words to describe such a physically torturing display of an entire career shrunk into one glorious shift. So, here’s the video:

That sends the chills…

Colorado Avalanche Moment #2

This moment for me is absolutely dreadful. I was 11 years old, and going to a game 7 with my dad against the Minnesota Wild (mild). I was nervous for my team to say the least, but I figured we’d win. I was wrong. Minnesota scored in the overtime period to advance to the next round, and my Colorado Avalanche had to go home empty.

On a side note, it’s fascinating that I had to relive this again in 2013-14, another game 7 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild, (that was the third playoff game I went to that year) who haunt my past…

But, this game marked the end of Patrick Roy’s career, and with it, the end of an era in Colorado Avalanche dominance. I cried, it was a sad ordeal because my childhood revolved around Avalanche hockey, and I was seeing the glory days of its existence come to an end.

Colorado Avalanche Moment #1

Now, to end with the obvious. The 2001 Stanley Cup win is the epitome of my involvement with the Colorado Avalanche. I was 9 years old at the time, and I remember it being the beginning of my love affair with the Avalanche. Peter Forsberg was just an absolute treat to watch in those days, and I was obsessed with him. Reminiscing to those times when I was watching those games is like a nostalgic trip back to the first time you road a bike, the memories are enveloped in a thick sheen of childhood bliss.

These are my moments, and they took a little longer than I thought to explain, but let’s quickly jump into the polls now.

Next: The Early Years

The Early Years

Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

My picture is awful to describe the early years, but it’s a nice intense Patrick Roy face regardless. The early years obviously constitutes to the very beginning of the Colorado Avalanche. It’s difficult not to include the 1996 cup win into the early years, since that was their first year. But below are a quick summary of my four options for the poll:

1.) Red Wings Rivalry –> This is some of the best rivalry hockey to ever be played, even with some of the long-standing rivalries that have been in existence since the beginning.

2.) Line-brawl with the Wings –> The line-brawl of 1997 between the Avalanche and Red Wings is the epitome of the brutality involved with the above mentioned rivalry.

3.) Patrick Roy deaf to Jeremy Roenick –> During the 1996 cup run, the Colorado Avalanche played the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round. Below is the famous exchange that took place between Patrick Roy and Jeremy Roenick:

4.) Patrick Roy and No More Rat Tricks –> Patrick Roy is known as a pretty fiery, intense, and dedicated guy. The above video shows his humor, but Nadia’s article on Patrick Roy’s vow for no more rats shows his dedication and determination to win.

Ok, now you’ve been informed of the options. Here’s the poll, join the fun!

Next: The Dynasty

The Dynasty

Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

I think it’s pretty obvious what two of the options will be in this poll. These years were marked by pure dominance from the Colorado Avalanche, and as such, the options in the poll will represent small — and big — factors of this dominance.

1.) 1996 Stanley Cup –> This was a great thing I’m sure for fans during this year, as they got to experience the pinnacle of hockey in only the first year that the Colorado Avalanche were ever a team.

2.) 2001 Stanley Cup –> Of course, these two Stanley Cups are entirely dependent upon which one resonates the most with you. For example, I was 4 during the first cup, and 9 during the second so I clearly resonate more with the second because I actually remember it.

3.) Ray Bourque lifts the Cup –> Speaking of remembering it, how about Ray Bourque finally getting the chance to lift the Cup. The best part of that is how Joe Sakic calls Bourque with him when he goes to lift the Cup, and passes it to him immediately.

4.) Peter Forsberg’s Career (the hat tricks, the takeovers, and the master of the Clutch and Grab era) –> His entire career is something of just pure beauty in the midst of the rough and jagged. He brutalized people, yet skated with grace and poise, and he could single-handedly take over games. Just ask the Florida Panthers about that one game in 1999 when Forsberg facilitated the comeback:

Once again, you’re aware of your options and below is the poll for your rankings.

Next: The Years of Little Hope

The Years of Little Hope

View image | gettyimages.com

These years are also etched into my mind because I began to lose hope that I would ever see a productive and capable team hit the ice again. The years of little hope started with Roy’s retirement, and ended with his hiring as coach of the Colorado Avalanche, along with the release of Joe Sacco.

1.) Adam Foote’s Final Shift –> Here’s another repeat from my list. But, how could this not make the overall list? I’m sure I’m not the only one who gets the chills every time they watch Adam Foote’s last shift.

2.) Joe Sakic retires –> When Joe Sakic retired in 2009, it completed the end of the Avalanche. After his retirement, the Avalanche fell fully into the realm of irrelevance, and the rebuild was just around the corner.

3.) Tony Granato’s years as coach –> Ok, I’ll admit that this one really should not be on here, but one cannot deny that Granato’s coaching was a clear example of how bad the Avalanche can get (besides the one year where he took over midseason). Oh wait, there’s just one more coach who did just a tad bit worse.

4.) Joe Sacco’s years as coach –> This is the epitome of how bad it can get, and good Lord am I glad that it’s over. Maybe he’s a reason why the Buffalo Sabres are so bad.

The options are clear folks, and there’s probably only two options that will compete for the overall top spot in this poll.

Next: The Rebuild

The Rebuild

Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

This is where it starts to get exciting, there’s so many good options in this section.

1). Matt Duchene’s celebration at draft –> The classic reason why Colorado Avalanche fans love Matty Dutch has to be on this list, and for your edification (in case you forgot ) here’s what it looked like:

Let’s all celebrate along with Duchene’s stage-whispered, “Yes!”

2.) Landeskogging –> This pick is more of a nod to Gabe Landeskog and his role in the rebuild, than it is to his actual form of Landeskogging, but here’s a video for that as well:

Pure gold…

3.) Joe Sakic/Patrick Roy hired –> Ok, here’s one more from my list, I suppose I double dipped a tad, but that’s to be expected.

4.) Nathan MacKinnon drafted –> This is the final stroke of the rebuild (I’d like to think we’re out of the rebuild stage now), and it should help catapult us to the future.

Once again, the options are there ladies and gents, take a whirl.

Next: The Future

The Future

Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The future is uncertain, just like my schedule for dates next week. But, unlike my date schedule, it actually looks pretty promising for the Colorado Avalanche. Here’s 4 options for the last poll:

1.) Patrick Roy’s partition push –> This is probably one of the most important things that occurred early in Roy’s career. He instilled a trust from his players, and incorporated his fiery passion as a player into his coaching style right from the start.

2.) Nathan MacKinnon’s rookie streak –> Anytime a player breaks a streak of Gretzky’s, it’s kind of a big deal. Well, MacKinnon did just that during his rookie season, and thus deserves to make the poll.

3.) Ryan O’Reilly trade –> This option is uncertain, but regardless of the outcome (positive or negative for the Avalanche) it will certainly impact the future of the team.

4.) Coors Light Stadium Series –> Ok, I know this hasn’t happened yet, but this is probably the biggest event in recent history for the Avalanche, and will play a big role in the future development of the team from a media and cultural standpoint.

The options are on the table, pick up your plate and grab some silverware, because it’s time to choose what you’re eating.

Next: Conclusion