50 Things Every Avs Fan Should Know: Chapter 1

The 2023-24 Colorado Avalanche season is just around the corner! If you're in need of a quick refresher, here are some fast facts about our organization's history!

The Colorado Avalanche is entering its 28th season starting October 11th, 2023.

In the summer of 1995, the Quebec Nordiques were purchased and relocated to Colorado. In 2000, Stan Kroenke purchased the Avalanche from Ascent Entertainment Group making them the newest addition to Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. The Avalanche play in the Central Division and the Western Conference in the National Hockey League.

The Avs play at Ball Arena, sharing their home with the Denver Nuggets (NBA) and the Colorado Mammoth (NLL) - both of which are under the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment umbrella.

Colorado won the Stanley Cup in 1996, their first year in Denver, making them the first Denver-based professional sports team to win a championship. They have since won two more Stanley Cup Championships in 2001 and 2022. Every time the Avalanche have been in the Stanley Cup Finals, they have won it all.

There have only been four captains in Avalanche history: Joe Sakic (1995-2009), Adam Foote (2009-2011), Milan Hejduk (2011-2012),Gabriel Landeskog (2012-Present).

The American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the organization is the Colorado Eagles, located up the hockey highway in Loveland, Colorado at the Budweiser Events Center. Aaron Schneekloth is the head coach for the Eagles.

Bernie the St. Bernard made his mascot debut on October 9th, 2009, as the official team mascot of the Colorado Avalanche.

Chris MacFarland was named General Manager of the organization on July 11th, 2022. He was previously Assistant General Manager from 2015 to 2022.

Jared Bednar was named head coach of the Avalanche on August 26th, 2016. He previously coached the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League, leading the team to a Calder Cup championship in the 2015-16 season. Bednar's playing career lasted from 1993 to 2002, seeing ice time with the St. John's Maple Leafs, Rochester Americans and the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 2023-24 campaign will be his eighth with the organization. Upon winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, Bednar is the first individual to win a championship in the NHL, AHL and ECHL as a head coach.