Goalies:
| Born: 9/11/66, London, Ontario 97/98 Stats: 23 games, 8 wins, 2.32 GAA, .923 prct Craig is a real good backup to Roy, and he had proved it several times. Was an All-Star Game player in 1993, and came to Avs from Boston Bruins. Billington who deserves to be a number 1, might be it in the future as more NHL teams enter the league. Avalanche also have to give more icetime to Marc Denis. |
#30 Marc Denis
| Born: 8/1/77, Montreal, Quebec 97/98 Stats: N/A Marc Denis is Avs' future goalie, and the natural man to take over when Roy has had his time. Still a gem who'll soon need, want and deserve more icetime. |
#33 Patrick Roy
| Born: 10/5/65, Quebec City, Quebec 97/98 Stats: 65 games, 31 wins, 2.39 GAA, .916 prct What can you say about Patrick? 3 Stanley Cup rings tells much of the story. Often mentioned as the best goalie in modern NHL, he was a steal when he came from Montreal. Can stop any shot when he is in the right mood. Back in his prime after a bad start this season. |
| Born: 10/14/67, Richmond, Quebec 97/98 Stats: 81 games, 10 (0+10) points, +2, 48 PIMS Sylvain Lefebvre is a guy you trust in your own zone. He does a great job trying to stop the elite of NHL's scoring machines. Was recieved from Toronto for Garth Butcher in the Sundin trade. |
#3 Aaron Miller
| Born: 8/11/71 Buffalo, New York 97/98 Stats: 55 games, 4 (2+2) points, 0, 51 PIMS Aaron Miller followed up his freshman year with taking a place in the Avalanche team. Miller's a defenseman Avs will have much good from in the future. Originally selected by Rangers in the 1989 draft, he didn't debute make his NHL debute until 93/94 for Quebec. |
#4 Cam Russell
| Born: 1/12/69, Halifax, Nova Scotia 97/98 Stats: 41 games, 2 (1+1) points, N/A, 79 PIMS (with Chicago) Most known to me as a fighter, and obviously not a point machine. Skilled enough to get a regular shift. Russell is yet another defenseman who will play in the Avalanche jersey this year. Was drafted in 1987 by the Blackhawks, and had been there ever since. |
#5 Alexei Gusarov
| Born: 7/8/64, Leningrad, Russia 97/98 Stats: 72 games, 14 (4+10) points, +9, 42 PIMS A Russian blueline veteran, Gusarov relies much on his experience. A steady player in his own zone, Gusarov defines a type of player we see more and more of in today's NHL. Has won pretty much all you can win in hockey. |
#7 Greg De Vries
| Born: 1/4/73, Sundridge, Ontario 97/98 Stats: 65 games, 11 (7+4) points, N/A, 80 PIMS (with Oilers) De Vries is a newcomer in the defensive corps for Avalanche. He's a big-build defenseman who have earlier played for Edmonton and Nashville. Let's see what he can do for Avs! |
#8 Sandis Ozolinsh
| Born: 8/3/72, Riga, Latvia 97/98 Stats: 66 games, 51 (13+38) points, -12, 65 PIMS Latvian Ozolinsh is a very offensive defenseman, that scores a lot of points. Was recieved from Sharks for Owen Nolan, and have become a subscriber to All Star games. Unfortunately, Sandis is involved in a contract dispute now, and only future can tell whether Avalanche can keep this point machine. |
#15 Mike Gaul
| Born: 4/22/73, Lachine, Quebec 97/98 Stats: N/A Another defenseman given his chance in Avs this season, Gaul came from the Islanders in exchange for another defenseman - Ted Crowley. Gaul is a big guy at 6'1" and has played with Lowell and Hershey earlier this season. |
#24 Jon Klemm
| Born: 1/8/70, Cranbrook, British Columbia 97/98 Stats: 67 games, 14 (6+8) points, -3, 30 PIMS Jon Klemm was drafted as early as in 1984 by Calgary. Still, he didn't make his debut in NHL until 1992 for Quebec. Can play as a forward too, which is useable for the Avalanche. Scored 2 goals in the 1995 Stanley Cup finals. |
#27 Scott Parker
| Born: N/A 97/98 Stats: ROOKIE Scott Parker was choosen in the 1st round in this year's draft. Parker is a real tough guy who doesn't step aside when the game goes into physical dimensions. Posted almost 50 penalty minutes in the preseason, and has already thrilled fight fans by dropping them against Tony Twist. |
#29 Eric Messier
| Born: 10/29/73, Drummondville, Quebec 97/98 Stats: 62 games, 16 (4+12) points, +4, 20 PIMS The 1997 October rookie of the month, Messier is yet another talented Avs youngster. Not related to Mark, but still skillful. A steady guy, that'll have many good NHL years to look forward at. Had extreme bad luck as he left the season opener with a broken arm for a long time on the injury list. Came back and got injured again. |
#32 Jeff Buchanan
| Born: 5/23/71, Swift Current, Saskatchewan 97/98 Stats: Rookie Jeff Buchanan was signed from Tampa in August. Buchanan never played for Tampa though, although spending three years in their organization. Interestingly, Buchanan is born in the same town where Joe Sakic played his junior hockey! |
#43 Dan Smith
| Born: 10/19/76, Fernie, British Columbia 97/98 Stats: ROOKIE Rookie defenseman Dan Smith was recalled from Hershey in the beginning of this season to replace injured Eric Messier. I don't know too much about Smith but he was a late 7nd round choice in the 1995 draft. Has been playing for Tri-City Americans in WHL. Didn't post any stats in the preseason games, but has a solid +5 in his NHL appearances. |
#52 Adam Foote
| Born: 7/10/71, Toronto, Ontario 97/98 Stats: 77 games, 17 points (3+14), -3, 124 PIMS Adam Foote is a big at home defender, often underrated. "Footer" has played for Canada both in World Cup and the Nagano Olympics. Doesn't fear to protect his teammates from other team's goons. |
#59 Brian White
| Born: 2/7/76, Winchester, Massachusetts 97/98 Stats: ROOKIE In these days when Avs have lots of injuries to their defensemen, there's a lot of new guys tested. White is quite unknown to me, and had prior to his call-up only been playing in the AHL. He's given very limited ice-time for Avs in the NHL. |
| Born: 7/6/76, Edmonton, Alberta 97/98 Stats: 70 games, 6 points (3+3), 149 PIMS (with Calgary) Dingman came with Fleury from Calgary, and he plays the enforcer role on a team. A little like Corbet which we have to give up, but maybe more tougher where Corbet had more skill. Will probably serve some time in Hershey. |
#10 Warren Rychel
| Born: 5/12/67, Tecumseh, Ontario 97/98 Stats: 71 games, 11 points (5+6), -11, 221 PIMS Acquired in exchange for Josef Marha, Rychel will bring the Avalanche yet another physical force. Popular among the other players in the team, Avs won the Cup last time he was on the roster. |
#12 Shean Donovan
| Born: 1/22/75, Timmins, Ontario 97/98 Stats: 67 games, 18 (8+10) points, +6, 70 PIMS Shean Donovan was aquired from San Jose for Mike Ricci. Shean got the right size to play in the NHL, and is a player Avalanche hope can add something decent to this hockey club. One of the players who can show up a big physical presence. |
#13 Valeri Kamensky
| Born: 4/28/66, Voskresensk, Russia 97/98 Stats: 75 games, 66 points (26+40), -2, 60 PIMS Kamensky is a Russian sniper that can skate with anyone in the league. Valeri is originally drafted for Quebec, and has been with the franchise since. His career became even more successful when being pared with Forsberg in one of NHL's best lines. |
#14 Theoren Fleury
| Born: 6/29/68, Oxbow, Saskatchewan 97/98 Stats: 82 games, 78 points (27+51), 197 PIMS (with Calgary) Theoren Fleury is a superstar, no doubt about it. His abilities will help Avalanche a lot during the 99 playoffs. Small at size, but big at heart, Fleury is the perfect player to have on your team. Has scored over 1100 points for the Flames and won the Stanley Cup once with them. |
#14 Christian Matte
| Born: 1/20/75, Hull, Quebec 97/98 Stats: 5 games, 0 points, 6 PIMS Matte hadn't any luck in his easy-counted NHL appearances last year, but hopes to have some more tryouts during this season. This skilled wing have been scoring over 50 goals for Granby in QMJHL, a league where he also was a second-team all-star. Netted one against new Jersey in his first game of the year. |
#18 Adam Deadmarsh
| Born: 5/10/75, Trail, British Columbia 97/98 Stats: 73 games, 43 points (22+21), 0, 125 PIMS A personal favorite, Adam represents an excellent mix of size, toughness and goalscoring - the powerforward recipe. Lead all Avs players in 96/97 with 33 goals, and played for USA in Nagano. |
#19 Joe Sakic (C)
| Born: 7/7/69, Burnaby, British Columbia 97/98 Stats: 64 games, 63 points (27+36), 0, 50 PIMS Joe Sakic is one of the superstars on the team, and in the league as well. Often praised as nice and quiet. Injuries stopped him partly this past season, so he couldn't often perform at his best. The Captain of the team won the Conn Smythe in 1996. |
#21 Peter Forsberg
| Born: 7/20/73, Ornskoldsvik, Sweden 97/98 Stats: 72 games, 91 points (25+66), +6, 94 PIMS The biggest star in NHL today? Decide yourself, but Peter Forsberg is a player out of the ordinary. Capable to do anything with a puck, just ask his teammates. Unlike many other pu ck wizards, Forsberg can also deliver a big hit. |
#22 Claude Lemieux
| Born: 7/16/65, Buckingham, Quebec 97/98 Stats: 78 games, 53 points (26+27), -7, 115 PIMS Claude is a very annoying guy - for the opposite team. A player you love to have on your team, but hate to meet. The utimate playoff player, which has paid off in 3 Cups. Also known to have started the "war" against the Red Wings. |
#23 Milan Hejduk
| Born: 2/14/76, Ssntad-Laberm, Czech Republic 97/98 Stats: ROOKIE Hejduk had a great preseason with the Avalanche, in which he impressed the staff with scoring 5 goals and 2 assists. Selected by Avalanche in the 1994 Entry Draft. Had a goal and an assist in his NHL debute against Ottawa. |
#25 Shjon Podein
| Born: 3/5/68, Rochester, Minnesota 97/98 Stats: 82 games, 24 points, 11+13, 53 PIMS (with Philadelphia) Shjon Podein is a tight-checking defensive forward and at an age of 30 a long-time NHL veteran for Edmonton and Philadelphia. Hopefully Podein will fill in some void left when Mike Ricci and Mike Keane both got traded. Podein will also serve time in the penalty-killing unit. |
#26 Stephane Yelle
| Born: 5/9/74, Ottawa, Ontario 97/98 Stats: 81 games, 22 points (7+15), -10, 48 PIMS Stephane Yelle is most praised in Avalanche for his defensive skills. Always on the ice in boxplay, Stephane is often overlooked when ranking the best defensive players in the NHL. Originally drafted for Devils in 1992, but never played there. |
#36 Jeff Odgers
| Born: 5/31/69, Spy Hill, Saskatchewan 97/98 Stats: 68 games, 13 points (5+8), +5, 213 PIMS You'll never see Jeff Odgers stop working, he gives it all at every shift. Not only being Colorado's most frequent enforcer, he's also recognized for his leadership. Wore the Captain's C while playing for San Jose. Came to Avs from Boston. |
#37 Chris Drury
| Born: 8/20/76, Trumbull, Connecticut 97/98 Stats: ROOKIE Chris Drury is the brother of Anaheim's Ted Drury, and a big prospect. Made the team this season after a very promising preseason with 5 goals and 3 assists. Have won the Hobey Baker Award given to US' best college player. Originally drafted as early as in 1989 by then Quebec. |
#42 Brad Larsen
| Born: 7/28/77, Nakusp, British Columbia 97/98 Stats: 1 game, 0 points, 0, 0 PIMS Brad Larsen is a player I don't know much about. Came to the Avalanche from Ottawa in trade for Janne Laukkanen. Was captain of a gold-winning under-18 Canadian team, and has played for Swift Current Broncos - Joe Sakic' junior team. |
#44 Serge Aubin
| Born: 2/15/75, Val D'Or, Quebec 97/98 Stats: ROOKIE Aubin is a French-Canadian who has spent his whole career in the AHL, lately with the Hershey where he has been a profilic scorer. Originally, Aubin was selected by Pittsburgh in the 1994 draft. He had one game with Colorado in 1998. |
| Born: 8/1/79, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan The younger brother of Wade Belak is as tough and maybe even thougher than his big brother. Drafted by the Avalanche in 1997 as 53rd overall. Participated in his first NHL camp this summer and had 23 penalty minutes in his preseason games. Dare a future Avalanche pairing with the Belak brothers! |
#40 Alex Tanguay
| Born: TBA Tanguay is only 18 years but had a great camp this summer, posting 5 goals and 3 assists. A summer where he also was drafted in the 1st round of the draft, 12th total. The scouts say he seems to create scoring chances just by stepping on the ice. Looks very promising to me! Will play this season for Halifax in the QMJHL. |
All text written are �1998 Niklas Ohlsson
This page hosted by