The Colorado Avalanche are an American professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Avalanche have won three Stanley Cup championships, in 1996, 2001, and 2022. Originally founded as the Quebec Nordiques in Quebec, Canada, the team was part of the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 to 1979. The Nordiques won the WHA championship, the Avco Cup, in 1977. Following the WHA and the NHL merger, the Nordiques joined the NHL for the 1979–80 season.
Despite early success in the NHL, including playoff runs in the early 1980s led by stars Peter Stastny and Michel Goulet, the team struggled in the late 1980s. Poor performances allowed the Nordiques to draft top young talent, which helped them return to the playoffs in the early 1990s. However, financial issues plagued the franchise, and in 1995, the team was sold to a Denver-based group and relocated, becoming the Colorado Avalanche.
In their first season in Denver (1995–96), the Avalanche shocked the league by winning the Stanley Cup, led by the acquisition of star goaltender Patrick Roy and forwards Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg. The Avalanche remained competitive throughout the late 1990s, and in 2001, they won their second Stanley Cup. After a period of moderate success and some playoff droughts, the team underwent a resurgence in the 2010s under head coach Jared Bednar. The Avalanche won their third Stanley Cup in 2022 after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in the finals, ending years of postseason disappointment.
Colorado Avalanche Preseason Schedule
The Colorado Avalanche kicked off their 2024 preseason with a close 3-2 loss against the Dallas Stars on September 23. Up next, they’ll head to Dallas for a rematch on September 27 at the American Airlines Center. The Avalanche will then return home to Ball Arena to face Utah on September 29, followed by a showdown with the Vegas Golden Knights on October 1, which will be broadcast live on TNT. After a road game in Vegas on October 3, the Avs will wrap up their preseason with a final clash against Utah at the Maverik Center on October 5.
Here’s a table summarising the Colorado Avalanche’s preseason schedule:
| Date | OPP | Result | Record |
| Sep 23, 2024 | Dallas | L 3-2 | 0-1-0 |
| Date | OPP | Time / TV | Venue |
| Sep 27, 2024 | Dallas | 8:00 pm | American Airlines Center |
| Sep 29, 2024 | Utah | 7:00 pm | Ball Arena |
| Oct 1, 2024 | Vegas | 9:30 pm TNT | Ball Arena |
| Oct 3, 2024 | Vegas | 10:00 pm | T-Mobile Arena |
| Oct 5, 2024 | Utah | 7:00 pm | Maverik Center |
Colorado Avalanche Preseason Schedule FAQs
A. The Colorado Avalanche were founded in 1972.
A. The Colorado Avalanche play in the Western Conference.
A. The Colorado Avalanche are part of the Central Division.
A. The Colorado Avalanche's home arena is Ball Arena.
A. The team was originally known as the Quebec Nordiques from 1972 to 1979 in the WHA, and from 1979 to 1995 in the NHL. They have been known as the Colorado Avalanche from 1995 to the present (September 2024).
