The Colorado Avalanche’s throwback jersey night against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night evoked memories long-since stashed away for posterity.
Seeing the Quebec Nordiques jerseys, ones that last hit the ice for an official game 30 years ago, brought back a sense of what it was like to see the floundering Canadian squad desperately trying to remain in its home.
The Nordiques’ ownership could not sustain the team in Quebec City, and, well, a move was necessary. At the time, it was an interesting move to see the Nordiques head to Colorado, considering the first iteration of hockey in the Mile High state had folded.
But then again, this time it was meant to last for good.
Seeing Valeri Nichushkin wearing no. 13 reminded me of another no. 13 in Quebec, Mats Sundin. Sundin was originally drafted by the Nordiques before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It was tough to discern the difference between Nichushkin and Sundin as they looked identical in the light blue jersey, showing that no. 13.
Another player who somehow didn’t match the jersey was Cale Makar. For some reason, the face just didn’t fit the uniform. It was like seeing Makar in an alternate universe. In that universe, the Nordiques didn’t fold. They drafted Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and had won three Stanley Cups in their history.
It was quite an interesting exercise to see the throwback jerseys bring back a time that ceased to exist so long ago.
Colorado Avalanche netminder looked eerily familiar to a Nordiques mainstay
It wasn’t tough seeing Scott Wedgewood getting chased from the game. But thank goodness Trent Miner came in and settled things down.
But as I watched Miner in the Nordiques jersey, he reminded me of another Nordiques player from back in the day: Stephane Fiset.
Fiest is famous for his igloo-themed mask. But seeing Miner in action, the Jersey, the complexion, and even the mask, it was like seeing Fiset channeled from a time machine and into Thursday night’s tilt to save the Avalanche from the impending doom of a home loss.
Ultimately, Miner, being the Fiset doppelganger that he was, bought the Avalanche enough time to force overtime. The Colorado Avalanche didn’t get the two points, but they got a million for evoking the types of memories that longtime hockey fans may have tucked away for good.
In my case, it brought back memories from my school days. While Quebec Nordiques-Hartford Whalers games weren’t exactly the most exciting back in the day, who doesn’t love to remember pleasant childhood moments?
It’s amazing how time flies.