With the Stadium Series coming to Colorado this weekend, hockey fans dating back to the mid-1990s are excited for Friday alumni game. From 1996 to 2002, the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings met five times for 30 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs when the rivalry was at it strongest. On Feb. 26, the players will get one more chance to settle this rivalry once and for all. The game will feature the likes of Claude Lemieux, Patrick Roy and many others. For a full look at the Avalanche Alumni roster (alphabetical order) click through the slideshow below.
**all statistics from time with Avalanche and during the regular season
Image credit: milehighhockey.com and avalanche.nhl.com
Craig Billington
Goalie, #1
Played with Avalanche from 1996-1999
NHL totals: 332 games, 110 wins, 149 losses, 9 shutouts
Rob Blake
Defenseman, #4
Played with Avalanche from 2000-2006
NHL totals: 1,270 games, 240 goals, 777 points
Image Credit: can.nhl.com
Ray Bourque
Defenseman, #77
Played with Avalanche from 1999-2001
NHL totals: 1,612 games played, 410 goals, 1,579 points
His time in Colorado was short, but achieved its ultimate goal: Get the greatest defenseman in the history of the NHL a Stanley Cup. Bourque will always be known as a Bruin, but Colorado Avalanche history isn’t the same without him.
Image Credit: hhof.com
Adam Deadmarsh (coach)
Right Wing, #18
Played with the Avalanche from 1994-2001
NHL totals: 567 games played, 184 goals, 373 points
Image Credit: thehockeywriters.com
Adam Foote
Defenseman, #52
Played with Avalanche from 1995-2011
NHL totals: 1,154 games played 66 goals, 308 points
The Hall of Fame defenseman is just as much of a representation of the Avalanche franchise as Sakic. Foote got to raise the Stanley Cup twice during the Avs and Wings rivalry stretch from ’96-’02. His jersey currently hangs in the rafters at the Pepsi Center along with some pretty good company in Sakic, Roy, Forsberg and Bourque.
Image Credit: avalanche.nhl.com
Peter Forsberg
Center, #21
Played with Avalanche from 1995-2011
NHL totals: 708 games, 249 goals, 885 points
Forsberg is the definition of a fan favorite. You probably couldn’t find another player who was loved more by his teammates and fans while absolutely despised by his opponents. He was a force to be reckoned with on the ice and his skills with the puck were legendary. He wasn’t afraid to punish those that got in his way and had a reputation to step up when his team needed him most.
Image Credit: avalanche.nhl.com
Milan Hejduk
Right Wing, #23
Played with Avalanche from 1998-2013
NHL totals: 1,020 games, 375 goals, 805 points
Image Credit: milehighhockey.com
Dan Hinote
Right Wing, #13
Played with Avalanche from 1999-2006
NHL totals: 503 games, 38 goals, 90 points
Image Credit: greatesthockeylegends.com
Valeri Kamensky
Left Wing, #13
Played with Avalanche from 1995-1999
NHL totals: 637 games, 200 goals, 501 points
Image Credit: bsdenver.com
Mike Keane
Right Wing, #12
Played with Avalanche from 1995-2003
NHL totals: 1,161 games, 168 goals, 470 points
Image Credit: milehockey.com
Jon Klemm
Defenseman, #24
Played with Avalanche from 1995-2001
NHL totals: 773 games, 42 goals, 142 points
Image Credit: milehighhockey.com
Claude Lemieux
Right Wing, #22
Played with Avalanche from 1995-2000
NHL totals: 1,215 games, 379 goals, 786 points
Lemieux helped bring this rivalry to the forefront after his massive (albiet a little questionable) hit on Kris Draper. The Red Wings sought revenge on Lemieux for the next 10 years. With both Draper and Lemieux in the lineup Friday, this is one matchup, fans can’t wait to see again.
Image Credit: denverpost.com
Curtis Leschyshyn
Defenseman, #7
Played with Avalanche from 1995-1997
NHL totals: 1,033 games, 47 goals, 212 points
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Eric Messier
Left Wing, #29
Played with Avalanche from 1996-1999, 1999-2003
NHL totals: 406 games, 25 goals, 75 points
Image Credit: lapresse.ca
Sandis Ozolinsh
Defenseman, #8
Played with Avalanche from 1995-2000
NHL totals: 875 games, 167 goals, 564 points
Image Credit: milehighhockey.com
Shjon Podein
Left Wing, #25
Played with Avalanche from 1998-2002
NHL totals: 699 games, 100 goals, 206 points
Image Credit: cbsnews.com
Mike Ricci
Center, #9
Played with the Avalanche from 1995-1998
NHL statistics: 1,099 games played, 243 goals, 605 points
Image Credit: bestsportsphotos.com
Patrick Roy
Goaltender, #33
Played with Avalanche from 1995-2003
NHL statistics: 1,029 games played, 551 wins, 66 shutouts
While Roy might be known in this rivalry for his brawl with Red Wings goaltender Mike Vernon, but he is so much more than that. Roy was responsible for revolutionizing goaltending by making butterfly style the standard. He won four Stanley Cups, three Conn Smythes, three Vezinas, to name a few of his many awards. He is considered to be one of the greatest goaltenders to ever play the game. Roy’s new position behind the bench has made fans ecstatic, but watching him in the nets Friday night, will leave fans euphoric and overjoyed.
Image Credit: chicagotribune.com
Joe Sakic
Center, #19
Played with Avalanche from 1995-2009
NHL totals: 1,378 games, 625 goals, 1,641 points
It is impossible for one to think of the Colorado Avalanche and not think of Joe Sakic. Nicknamed ‘Super Joe,’ Sakic is without a doubt the most talented player in franchise history. He holds career records for most seasons, games, goals, assists and points. He is the definition of a class-act in sports and led the Avs to two Stanley Cups during his captaincy. No doubt fans will be excited to see #19 back in an Avs jersey with a stick in his hand.
Image credit: dailysports.com
Chris Simon
Left Wing, #12
Played with Avalanche from 1995-1996
NHL totals: 782 games, 144 goals, 305 points
Image credit: mysite.du.edu
Stephane Yelle
Center, #26
Played with the Avalanche from 1995-2002, 2010
NHL totals: 991 games played, 96 goals, 265 points
Image Credit: milehighhockey.com