The tournament will run from Sept. 7-10 at Great Park Ice in Irvine, California. The Avalanche opens the tournament against the Golden Knights on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. MT and then plays the Kings on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. MT. Following a practice day on Monday, the team's final game will be against Arizona on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 12 p.m. MT.
All Avs games will be streamed online for in-market fans on ColoradoAvalanche.com, with Altitude Sports Radio's Conor McGahey on the call.
Last year, the same six teams competed against one another at the 2018 Vegas Rookie Faceoff. The Ducks came out on top, ending the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record after beating Los Angeles, Colorado and Arizona. The Avs finished 1-2 in 2018 after losing to Anaheim and Vegas but coming out on top versus San Jose. Colorado will have a rematch with the Golden Knights at this year's rookie showcase.
The Avs' 29-man roster for the tournament includes five members of the club's 2019 draft class and a selection of players from the three drafts prior as well. The full roster is comprised of rookies, prospects, amateur tryouts and players on American Hockey League contracts. Much of the squad is already signed and will likely play with the Avalanche or in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles next season.
For many of the Avs heading to California this weekend, the Rookie Faceoff is a familiar setting. Eleven of the players skated in the 2018 tournament in Vegas and four were also at the 2017 tournament in San Jose. Additionally, 21 of the 29 prospects participated in the Avalanche's development camp in June.
Brandon Saigeon, the star of the Avs rookie team in 2018, will return this year to Irvine. Saigeon recorded at least one goal in all three games in 2018 and ended the showcase with five goals overall. The 2018 fifth-round draft pick of Colorado spent five seasons in the OHL before signing a contract with the Eagles this past summer.
