Colorado Avalanche News: Fan Fit Walk, Charity Drive, Avs Fan Fest

The Colorado Avalanche’s preseason is getting started. Find out some of the important events taking place in September.

The Colorado Avalanche preseason is about to go into high gear, with Rookie Camp starting today and Training Camp next week. As happens every September — which is why I always ask “Is it SEPTEMBER yet?” — news starts trickling in.

To kick off the NHL — and NBA — season, two Altitude TV sports personalities took a walk. A long walk. Kyle Keefe and Vic Lombardi walked from Fort Collins to the Pepsi Center in downtown Denver. That’s a trip of 82 miles, which is symbolic of the 82 home games at Pepsi Center each season — 41 each for the Avalanche and Nuggets.

The Fan Fit Walk was in partnership with UCHealth. The 82-mile walk took place over three days, from September 4 to 6, and was well-chronicled on Twitter. Here’s a sampling:

At the Pepsi Center, they were met with none other than our captain, Gabriel Landeskog:

Our captain doesn’t turn down an opportunity to bask in the spotlight:

— or to turn that spotlight onto a worthy cause.

Along the way, Kyle and Vic made stops at pre-determined locations to help collect sports equipment for Kroenke Sports Charities. The main event is the giveSPORTS Equipment Drive at Pepsi Center on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 9-11:30 a.m.

In partnership with A Precious Child, Kroenke Sports Charities is inviting the public to support underprivileged children in their desire to participate in sports by dropping off new and gently-used sports equipment and monetary donations at the Pepsi Center.

Since its beginning 2011, giveSPORTS has collected over 126,000 pieces of sports equipment and more than $66,000 in sports scholarships to benefit more than 12,000 local kids.

The third event is the Colorado Avalanche’s inaugural Fan Fest. The event takes place at the Pepsi Center on September 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It includes the following events:

• 9-11 a.m.: Street hockey clinics
• 10 a.m.: Avs5k
• 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Avalanche merchandise clear out
• 11:15-11:45 a.m.: Q&A with head coach Jared Bednar
• 12-2 p.m.: Avalanche players take the ice

Additionally, the Avalanche’s third jerseys are going to be unveiled at the Avs Fan Fest. (They’ll probably be similar to the previous season’s navy Colorado Rockies uniforms.) The event is non-ticketed, but fans should RSVP.

Colorado Avalanche hockey is upon us already with today’s Rookie Camp. Don’t forget to get your tickets for Opening Night, which takes place October 4.