On March 24th, the Florida Panthers posted this graphic highlighting their local partnership dedicated to conservation efforts for the panther that inspired the organization's name and mascot. The post sparked discussion not only on the disappointing numbers surrounding the Florida panther, but how teams around the league can follow in the Cats footsteps and work towards conserving their environment and community. A big name that should be in this conversation are the Colorado Avalanche.
Community outreach programs are not unfamiliar to the Avalanche organization. Just this weekend the team hosted their annual Charity Brunch to offer support to children overcoming medical issues, and they contribute to numerous other charities under the Kroenke Sports Charities program. For more detailed information on the organization's contributions, check out this Community Impact Report for 2024-2025.
Conservation efforts, however, remain an underaddressed area. Any fan that has walked in Ball Arena, taken a scroll through the Avalanche's social media, or caught a game on Altitude, can attest that they've heard of Ball and their aluminum recycling efforts. Detailed here, the Play Clean initiative began in 2008 and has been growing ever since in fight to protect the beautiful Rocky Mountains and environment of Colorado.
While improvements have been made and the team partners with Ball to promote environmental efforts, there are many more opportunities for the Avalanche to offer aid for the animal and environment that have given them their name and mascot.
The St. Bernard Rescue
Since welcoming him in 2009, Bernie the St. Bernard has been the fluffy and loveable face of the Avalanche. Decked out in an Avs jersey and shorts, Bernie also wears a barrel around his neck, making him an avalanche search and rescue dog! Always man's best friend, Bernie and the Avs have contributed to rescue efforts in Denver, often partnering with shelters like Dumb Friends League and National Mill Dog Rescue to host adoption events during Avalanche games. To continue this impact in a fashion similar to the Panthers' organization, Bernie and the Avs can also team up with the Colorado Saint Bernard Rescue.
Almost as old as the Avalanche themselves, the Colorado Saint Bernard Rescue is a non-profit committed to finding safe, forever homes for "unwanted, abandoned, and abused Saint Bernards and Saint Bernard mixes". The organization asks for support through fostering, aid in transporting dogs being rehomed, donations, volunteers, merchandise, and of course adoption!
On top of adoption, the non-profit provides resources and help for those looking to surrender Saint Bernards in an effort to keep the loveable giants from being abandoned or left behind. Like the shelters already in partnership with the Avalanche, they accept Saint Bernards off all ages and sizes, encouraging adoption of older dogs that aren't as likely to be picked up by the shelter.
To stick with the theme, the Avalanche could host another in-game adoption event for the Colorado Saint Bernard Rescue, or if they wanted to do something a little different, a merchandise collaboration could also work. Offering limited edition staple items like shirts, hats, or pucks in the team store on a specific game day would be a great opportunity to raise money for the non-profit and give Avs fans a chance to support the real life Bernies of Colorado.
Environmental Efforts
Besides offering support for the dog breed of their mascot, the Avalanche get their name from a natural disaster commonly found in the Rocky Mountains just a few hours away from Ball Arena. Despite being considered disasters, avalanches are very important for two reasons; 1) they rejuvenate mountain ecosystems by boosting biodiversity, and 2) more avalanches means there is actually snow in the mountains.
Ski resorts all over Colorado have reported poor snow conditions that are causing resorts to leave parts of their mountains closed or to shut down the entire ski hill despite it being early for closing season. Copper Mountain recently shared photos of skiers hitting the slopes in bikinis and swim trunks as snow was simply slush and temperatures were too high for proper snow suits.
Ski culture is a huge part of the Colorado identity, as are the mountains in general. The Avalanche have made that culture a part of theirs by naming their team after an unstoppable, significant force of nature that Colorado needs to protect their environment. Stated simply, no snow means no avalanches, and the Colorado hockey team could potentientially see themselves becoming the only kind of avalanche found in Colorado.
On top of their recycling effort with Ball, the organization could benefit from working with ski resorts around Colorado to raise awareness on climate change, shifting temperatures and seasons, and how we can all work together to change the capitalistic culture that us causing harm to our seasons. Most resorts in Colorado already have their own environmental plans in place to become more sustainable and combat climate change. The Avalanche could promote those efforts on social media or in press articles, or even host Play Clean games where they highlight information on how to preserve the Rocky Mountain biome and combat environmental disintegration.
There's a lot of different approaches and tactics, as well as ski resorts and environmental groups that the Avalanche organization could partnership with to promote a snowier Colorado. While we all love our Colorado Avalanche, no one wants them to be the last standing avalanche in the state.