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+====== Colorado Avalanche ======
+===== WHA Foundations =====
+The franchise was originally founded in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques, serving as one of the twelve inaugural teams of the World Hockey Association [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Colorado-Avalanche|Britannica]])]
+===== NHL Entry =====
+In 1979, the Nordiques were one of four WHA teams absorbed into the National Hockey League during the landmark merger between the two leagues [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Colorado-Avalanche|Britannica]])]
+===== The Relocation =====
+Facing financial difficulties in Canada and a lack of arena funding, the team was sold and moved to Denver in the summer of 1995 [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Colorado-Avalanche|Britannica]])]
+===== Name Origin Meaning =====
+The "Avalanche" name was chosen to reflect the power of the Colorado Rockies; other finalists included "Black Bears" and "Outlaws" [([[https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/57014/how-all-30-nhl-teams-got-their-names|Mental Floss]])]
+===== Rocky Mountain Extreme =====
+The team was famously almost named the "Rocky Mountain Extreme," but the name was scrapped after public outcry over its corporate feel [([[https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/57014/how-all-30-nhl-teams-got-their-names|Mental Floss]])]
+===== Logo Symbolism =====
+The "A" in the primary logo represents a snow-capped mountain, while the puck-like comet circling it represents an avalanche [([[https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/57014/how-all-30-nhl-teams-got-their-names|Mental Floss]])]
+===== Instant Champions =====
+In 1996, the Avalanche became the first relocated team in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup in their very first season in a new city [([[https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/quebec-nordiques-brief-history-319634648|NHL.com]])]
+===== The Stastny Defection =====
+While in Quebec, the team made history by signing the Stastny brothers, who were the first players to defect from a communist country to play in the NHL [([[https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/quebec-nordiques-brief-history-319634648|NHL.com]])]
+===== Heritage Jerseys =====
+The Avalanche still pay homage to their roots by wearing uniforms featuring the classic Quebec Nordiques fleur-de-lis during special games [([[https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/quebec-nordiques-brief-history-319634648|NHL.com]])]
+===== First Goal Scorer =====
+Valeri Kamensky scored the first goal in Colorado Avalanche history on October 6, 1995, during the team's inaugural home game [([[https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/team-page/colorado-avalanche/21/|TSN]])]
+===== Retired Number 19 =====
+Joe Sakic’s #19 was retired in 2009; he remains the franchise leader in goals, assists, and points [([[https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/team-page/colorado-avalanche/21/|TSN]])]
+===== Retired Number 21 =====
+Peter Forsberg’s #21 was raised to the rafters in 2011 to honor his two championships and Hart Trophy win with the team [([[https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/team-page/colorado-avalanche/21/|TSN]])]
+===== Perfect Finals Record =====
+The Avalanche are the only NHL franchise to have played in at least three Stanley Cup Finals and won every single one (1996, 2001, 2022) [([[https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34153922/colorado-avalanche-win-stanley-cup-dethroning-tampa-bay-lightning-game-6|ESPN]])]
+===== 2022 Title Run =====
+In 2022, the team ended a 21-year championship drought by defeating the back-to-back defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning [([[https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34153922/colorado-avalanche-win-stanley-cup-dethroning-tampa-bay-lightning-game-6|ESPN]])]
+===== Most Points in a Season =====
+The 2021-22 Avalanche team set a franchise record with 119 points during the regular season, finishing with a 56-19-7 record [([[https://www.espn.com/nhl/history/awards/_/id/23|ESPN]])]
+===== First European #1 Pick =====
+In 1989, the franchise made Mats Sundin the first European-born player ever to be selected first overall in the NHL Draft [([[https://www.hhof.com/htmlInduct/ind12Sundin.shtml|Hockey Hall of Fame]])]
+===== Double Triple Gold =====
+Peter Forsberg is one of only three players in history to win the Stanley Cup, World Championship, and Olympic Gold twice each [([[https://www.hhof.com/htmlInduct/ind14Forsberg.shtml|Hockey Hall of Fame]])]
+===== Bourque’s Championship Wait =====
+Ray Bourque holds the record for the most games played in NHL history (1,612) before winning his first Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001 [([[https://www.hhof.com/htmlInduct/ind04Bourque.shtml|Hockey Hall of Fame]])]
+===== Consecutive Sellouts =====
+The Avalanche set an NHL record by selling out 487 consecutive home games between 1995 and 2006 [([[https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/colorado-avalanche|Colorado Encyclopedia]])]
+===== Original Home Venue =====
+Before moving to their current arena, the Avalanche played their first four seasons in Denver at the historic McNichols Sports Arena [([[https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/colorado-avalanche|Colorado Encyclopedia]])]
+===== Division Title Streak =====
+The franchise holds the NHL record for the most consecutive division titles, winning nine straight between 1995 and 2003 [([[https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/colorado-avalanche|Colorado Encyclopedia]])]
+===== Nathan MacKinnon’s Draft =====
+In 2013, the Avalanche selected Nathan MacKinnon first overall; he went on to win the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie [([[https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/COL/history.html|Hockey-Reference]])]
+===== Peter Forsberg’s MVP Year =====
+In 2003, Forsberg became the first and only Avalanche player to win the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player [([[https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/COL/history.html|Hockey-Reference]])]
+===== All-Time Wins Leader =====
+Patrick Roy holds the franchise record for the most wins by a goaltender, recording 262 victories during his tenure in Colorado [([[https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/COL/leaders_career.html|Hockey-Reference]])]
+===== 2026 Home Record =====
+During the current 2025-26 season, the Avalanche have one of the league's best home records, winning 21 of their first 25 games at Ball Arena [([[https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask?q=colorado+avalanche+season+record+2025-2026|StatMuse]])]
+===== Goal Scoring Pace =====
+Colorado is currently leading the NHL in goals per game for the 2025-26 season, averaging 3.88 goals per contest [([[https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/team/colorado-avalanche-27/2026|StatMuse]])]
+===== 2026 MacKinnon Performance =====
+As of February 2026, Nathan MacKinnon leads the team with over 90 points, placing him near the top of the league scoring race [([[https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/team/colorado-avalanche-27/2026|StatMuse]])]
+===== The Lindros Trade =====
+The franchise’s success was built on the 1992 trade of Eric Lindros, which brought Peter Forsberg and five other players to the team [([[https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/looking-back-trade-built-colorado-avalanche/|Sportsnet]])]
+===== Youngest Captain =====
+In 2012, Gabriel Landeskog became the youngest captain in NHL history at the time, at just 19 years and 286 days old [([[https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/landeskog-youngest-captain-nhl-history/|Sportsnet]])]
+===== Makar’s Trophy Sweep =====
+In 2022, Cale Makar became the first defenseman in the 21st century to win both the Norris and Conn Smythe Trophies in the same season [([[https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/cale-makar-wins-conn-smythe-trophy-after-leading-avalanche-to-stanley-cup/|Sportsnet]])]
+===== "Bloody Wednesday" Brawl =====
+One of the most famous brawls in sports history occurred on March 26, 1997, between the Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings [([[https://www.denvergazette.com/sports/avalanche/reminiscing-about-the-1996-avalanche-stanley-cup-team-as-members-return-for-reunion-nhl-insider/article_111b7d86-976c-11ef-ba39-bb7d89617d5e.html|Denver Gazette]])]
+===== 1996 Triple OT Goal =====
+Uwe Krupp scored the game-winning goal in triple overtime of Game 4 to clinch the 1996 Stanley Cup against Florida [([[https://www.denvergazette.com/sports/avalanche/reminiscing-about-the-1996-avalanche-stanley-cup-team-as-members-return-for-reunion-nhl-insider/article_111b7d86-976c-11ef-ba39-bb7d89617d5e.html|Denver Gazette]])]
+===== The Bourque Handover =====
+In 2001, Joe Sakic famously refused to hoist the Stanley Cup first, handing it immediately to veteran Ray Bourque [([[https://www.denvergazette.com/sports/avalanche/reminiscing-about-the-1996-avalanche-stanley-cup-team-as-members-return-for-reunion-nhl-insider/article_111b7d86-976c-11ef-ba39-bb7d89617d5e.html|Denver Gazette]])]
+===== Jared Bednar’s Triple Crown =====
+Head coach Jared Bednar is the only coach to have won championships in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL [([[https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10039912-avalanche-hc-jared-bednar-is-first-head-coach-to-win-stanley-cup-calder-cup-kelly-cup|Bleacher Report]])]
+===== Historic Struggles: 12-Win Season =====
+In the 1989-90 season, the Quebec Nordiques recorded only 12 wins, which remains the lowest single-season total in franchise history [([[https://bleacherreport.com/articles/484964-the-worst-nhl-teams-of-all-time/|Bleacher Report]])]
+===== Pierre Lacroix’s Legacy =====
+General Manager Pierre Lacroix is the architect of the 1996 and 2001 teams, having orchestrated the trades for Roy, Bourque, and Blake [([[https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2922441-legendary-colorado-avalanche-gm-pierre-lacroix-dies-at-age-72|Bleacher Report]])]
+===== Retired Number 52 =====
+Adam Foote, a key defenseman on both the 1996 and 2001 Cup teams, had his #52 jersey retired in 2013 [([[https://www.avalanchedb.com/players/retired.php|AvalancheDB]])]
+===== Retired Number 23 =====
+Milan Hejduk, who played his entire 1,020-game career for the Avalanche, had his #23 retired in 2018 [([[https://www.avalanchedb.com/players/retired.php|AvalancheDB]])]
+===== Retired Number 33 =====
+Patrick Roy’s #33 was the first number retired by the team after moving to Colorado, raised to the rafters in 2003 [([[https://www.avalanchedb.com/players/retired.php|AvalancheDB]])]
+===== Ball Arena Ice Piping =====
+The ice surface at Ball Arena is maintained by a complex refrigeration system that utilizes over 10 miles of piping beneath the floor [([[https://www.ballarena.com/arena-information/about-ball-arena/|Ball Arena]])]
+===== Practice Facility Location =====
+Unlike most NHL teams, the Avalanche practice on-site at Ball Arena when they are not traveling for away games [([[https://www.ballarena.com/arena-information/about-ball-arena/|Ball Arena]])]
+===== Arena Naming History =====
+The venue was originally known as the Pepsi Center from its opening in 1999 until its renaming to Ball Arena in 2020 [([[https://www.ballarena.com/arena-information/about-ball-arena/|Ball Arena]])]
+===== Bernie the Mascot Debut =====
+The team’s official mascot, a St. Bernard named Bernie, debuted in 2009 after the retirement of the yeti mascot [([[https://www.foxsports.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche-team|FOX Sports]])]
+===== Outdoor Air Force Game =====
+In 2020, the Avalanche hosted an outdoor Stadium Series game at the U.S. Air Force Academy's Falcon Stadium [([[https://www.foxsports.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche-team|FOX Sports]])]
+===== 2021 Presidents’ Trophy =====
+The Avalanche won the 2021 Presidents' Trophy for the league's best record, finishing with 82 points in a shortened season [([[https://www.foxsports.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche-team|FOX Sports]])]

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