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Colorado Avalanche Decade in Review: 20 Memorable Moments

By Nadia Archuleta

DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 30: Joonas Donskoi #72 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal against the Florida Panthers with his bench at the Pepsi Center on October 30, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Panthers defeated the Avalanche 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 30: Joonas Donskoi #72 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal against the Florida Panthers with his bench at the Pepsi Center on October 30, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Panthers defeated the Avalanche 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Avalanche star Peter Forsberg announces his retirement at The Ridgeline Restaurant in the Pepsi Center. Joe Amon, The Denver Post (Photo By Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

2. Memorable Moment: Peter Forsberg Announces Retirement

We tried to hold on to our superstars and the Golden Era for as long as possible. After dallying elsewhere, including in his home country of Sweden, Peter Forsberg signed to play with the Colorado Avalanche for the 2010-11 season.

He started training with the team in January 2011. He made his debut that season on February 11 in Columbus. He didn’t record any points. He played what turned out to be his final NHL game the following night in Nashville.

Forsberg was slated to make his first home appearance two nights later, fittingly on Valentine’s Day. Instead, he announced his retirement that afternoon, citing the same (cursed) foot problems that plagued him his whole career and an inability to defend himself on the ice.

Here’s the announcement they showed in Pepsi Center:

Side note: I was at that game. We were all sitting around in anticipation of Forsberg’s return — in those pre-social media days, the news of his retirement hadn’t spread. So, when they showed the retirement announcement on Pepsi Vision, we were all in shock.

And when Foppa teared up, many of us started bawling. I’m not ashamed to admit I still tear up watching that video.

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