- 1995
- 1996
- 2000
- 2001
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Colorado Avalanche Born
While the team experienced on-ice success, it struggled financially. Quebec City was by far the smallest market in the league, and the second smallest to host a team in the four major sports. The changing financial environment in the NHL made things even more difficult, and in 1995 team owner Marcel Aubut asked for a bailout from Quebec’s provincial government ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 1996
The 1996 Stanley Cup Final was the NHL championship series of the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs contested between the Western Conference champion Colorado Avalanche and the Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers, two teams in the Final for the first time and that did not exist only three seasons before. It was Colorado’s first appearance in the Final, in only their ... -
Stan Kroenke Owner of the Avanche
Mr. E. Stanley Kroenke became the owner of the Colorado Avalanche on July 6, 2000. In the team’s first season under his ownership, the Avalanche hosted the NHL All-Star Game, won the Presidents’ Trophy, and defeated the New Jersey Devils to win the Stanley Cup, the second in franchise history (1996). Under Kroenke’s ownership, the team has won four division ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 2001
The 2001 Stanley Cup Finals was the NHL championship series of the 2001 Stanley Cup Playoffs contested between the Eastern Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils and the Western Conference champion Colorado Avalanche. It was Colorado’s second appearance in the Final and the first since the team won the Cup in 1996. It was New Jersey’s ...
History of the Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) is a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and play their home games at Ball Arena. They share the arena with the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League. Their general manager is Joe Sakic.
The Avalanche was founded in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques and was one of the charter franchises of the World Hockey Association. The franchise joined the NHL in 1979 as a result of the NHL–WHA merger. Following the 1994–95 season, they were sold to the COMSAT Entertainment Group and relocated to Denver.
Established
1972
City
Quebec City – Denver
League History
1980 – Present / National Hockey League
1972 – 1979 / World Hockey Association
Team History
1995 – Present / Colorado Avalanche
1972 – 1995 / Quebec Nordiques
Nickname
Avalanche – Rockies, the nickname for Colorado’s hockey team that left for New Jersey in 1982, had been adopted by Denver’s baseball team by the time the Quebec Nordiques left Canada for the Front Range in 1995. Management originally wanted to name the team Extreme, but received all sorts of negative feedback, and justifiably so. Avalanche, which eventually beat out Black Bears, Outlaws, Storm, Wranglers, Renegades, Rapids, and Cougars, drew some criticism, as well, given their deadly nature. A representative from the team replied: “This is the NHL, a rough and tough sport, and Avalanche is something that matches the ‘on the edge’ feel they want to create. Hey, Cougars and Bears kill people, too. People shouldn’t get so excited about Avalanche being a disrespectful name or something. It’s just a name.”
Championship
Stanley Cup 2
2001, 1996
Avco Cup 0
1977
Arena
1999 – Present / Pepsi Center
1995 – 1999 / McNichols Sports Arena
*Quebec*
1972 – 1995 / Colisée de Québec
Owner
2014 – Present / Ann Walton Kroenke
2000 – 2014 / E. Stanley Kroenke
1995 – 2000 / Charlie Lyons
1990 – 1995 / Marcel Aubut
1978 – 1990 / Carling – O’Keefe Brewery
1972 – 1978 / Quebec Remparts
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
19 / Joe Sakic
21 / Peter Forsberg
23 / Milan Hejduk
33 / Patrick Roy
52 / Adam Foote
77 / Ray Bourque
99 / Wayne Gretzky
*Blue is this team’s history