As Colorado transitions into fall then winter, ice hockey becomes a popular sport to both watch and play. The Colorado Avalanche, based in Denver, CO, represent the Centennial State in the National Hockey League.
Hockey History
Ice hockey originated in the 1800s in Nova Scotia before it was made popular in Canada in the mid-1800s. The first national hockey organization - the Amateur Hockey Association (AHA) - was formed in Canada in 1885, and the first “Stanley” silver cup was awarded during the 1892-93 season. The National Hockey League (NHL) was established in 1917. The Boston Bruins were the first US team to join in 1924 along with the Rangers, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Montreal Canadiens; these six teams made up the league until the 1967 expansion.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche, originally the Nordiques from Quebec, moved to Denver, Colorado in 1995. Commonly called the Avs, they were quick to make a name for themselves by winning the 1996 Stanley Cup. They won the Stanley Cup again in the 2000-01 season and secured their third title in 2020.
2024 Team and Schedule
With the six pre-season games nearly done, regular season games will begin on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 against the Las Vegas Knights (winners of the 2023 Stanley Cup). After an 82 game season, with half played at home in Ball Arena, we are eager to see them make the playoffs and represent the Western Conference Central Division. Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen are this season’s goalies with a combined 0.9125 average save percentage. Nathan MacKinnon, center; Cale Makar, defense; Mikko Rantanen, right wing; Devon Toews, defense; Logan O'Connor, right wing; and Artturi Lehkonen, left wing, are all notable seasoned players anchoring this team’s roster.
Ball Arena
Formerly known as the Pepsi Center, Ball Arena is home not only to the Avs’ but also the Denver Nuggets. It also hosts concerts and events throughout the year. Completed in 1999 and inaugurated by a sold-out Celine Dion performance, the five-level arena offers seating for over 18,000 to enjoy games and concerts in downtown Denver.
Durango, CO Hockey
In Durango, Colorado, the Durango High School hockey team has only been a sanctioned team for two years, and won the state championships in the 2023-2024 season! We are also lucky to have the Durango Area Youth Hockey Association (DAYHA) and an adult recreation league who play during the winter season at Chapman Hill ice rink. Both DAYHA, a club team, and DHS, a school team, are open to the public and offer wonderful development programs for the sport.
We are proud Colorado Avalanche fans and excited for the 2024-25 season to begin! Please let us know if you have any questions about ice hockey in Durango and Colorado.
Find out more about Colorado’s football team, the Denver Broncos here, Colorado’s baseball team, the Colorado Rockies here, and Colorado’s basketball team, the Denver Nuggets here.
