Mile High Sports

Flashback Friday: Avs alumni game roster

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

Image credit: goaliesarchive.com

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

Image Credit: gamewornauctions.net

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

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