The Colorado Avalanche training camp will consist of four days of practices that are free and open to the public.
The Colorado Avalanche have released their training camp schedule. The timing is a treat — I feel like we usually don’t get the information until just a week or two before.
In fact, the releasing of the schedule may be due to how packed September is with hockey. Don’t ask if it’s October yet — there’s lots of hockey starting already on September.
As you may remember, the Rookie Faceoff is happening already on September 8. The rookies have their first day of training camp the day before:
Sept 7: Rookies practice – 9:30 AM MDT
They then have games on September 8 and 9 before their second practice on September 10 in Vegas. they conclude with a game on September 11. (Read more here.)
Also on Tuesday, the Colorado Avalanche regulars will be participating in the Avalanche Charity Golf Classic, starting at 9:30 AM MDT.
On Thursday, September 13, the Avs regulars will report to training camp for their medicals. They will then talk to the media afterward. Unfortunately, we don’t have any players the front offices have been dangling on the trade block for two years, so we’re unlikely to experience the drama of last year when a certain player had to dodge relentless media pressure.
Moving on. Training camp proper starts on Friday, September 14 and continues for four days:
Friday, Sept. 14: Training Camp
Group 1 on ice: 8:45-10:15 a.m. MT
Group 2 on ice: 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, Sept. 15: Training Camp
Group 2 on ice: 8:45-10:15 a.m. MT
Group 1 on ice: 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MT
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Sunday, Sept. 16: Training Camp
Group 1 on ice: 8:45-10:15 a.m. MT
Group 2 on ice: 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MT
Monday, Sept. 17: Training Camp
Group 2 on ice: 8:45-10:15 a.m. MT
Group 1 on ice: 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MT
That’s all that’s been announced thus far. There’s a glaring omission that you may not have noticed.
There’s no Burgundy and White game scheduled.
The annual intra-squad scrimmage has been a staple of the Colorado Avalanche since 1998. The first three years, it was held at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, which is also where training camps took place.
The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs hosted the scrimmage on five occasions: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013. One year, 2010, the team held the scrimmage at the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield. Eight times, the Avalanche held the scrimmage at the Denver University Magness Arena: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
So, by my calculations, the Burgundy and White game venues have been like this:
- 1995-97: no games
- 1998: World Arena
- 1999: World Arena
- 2000: World Arena
- 2001: no game
- 2002: Magness Arena
- 2003: Magness Arena
- 2004: no game
- 2005: Magness Arena
- 2006: Magness Arena
- 2007: Air Force Academy
- 2008: Air Force Academy
- 2009: Air Force Academy
- 2010: 1STBANK Center
- 2011: Air Force Academy
- 2012: no game
- 2013: Air Force Academy
- 2014: Magness Arena
- 2015: Magness Arena
- 2016: Magness Arena
- 2017: Magness Arena
So, 2018 appears to be a “no game” year. Usually tickets for the scrimmage would have gone on sale by now.
That’s a disappointing turn of events. The Burgundy and White game is a chance for Avs fans to see the players in a real game setting. However, the day after training camp ends, the Colorado Avalanche will already be hosting their first preseason game, against the Vegas Golden Knights.