Category: Recreational

A Quick History Of The Colorado Avalanche

In the National Hockey League (NHL), there are many prominent teams that play each year for the Stanley Cup, but none is more special to people’s hearts than the Colorado Avalanche. While some NHL historians might value the history of the Original Six teams, there is just something about the Colorado Avalanche that speaks blue-blood of the NHL.

 The Colorado Avalanche franchise dated to 1972 when they were originally founded as the Quebec Nordiques as part of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Then in 1979, they became part of the NHL as a result of the WHA-NHL league merger.

 For the next 16 years, they were a mainstay as one of the NHL’s premier Canadian teams in a league that valued Canadian presence in an otherwise US sports professional league. The Quebec Nordiques.

 Unfortunately, for much of their tenure in Quebec, they were not successful. They only won their division twice in their 16-year stay in Quebec during their NHL tenure and never made it to a Stanley Cup Final. It was ultimately a lack of success and not enough fanbase for a struggling franchise that changed things up.

 A new ownership team came in during the 1994-95 season for the Nordiques and made the decision to relocate to Denver. It was ironically during that last season that was shortened due to players’ strike, that Quebec for the first time, had the best overall record in the Eastern Conference.

 After losing to the eighth seed New York Rangers in the 1st round of the 1994-95 NHL playoffs, the team’s days of irrelevance would soon be put behind them. In their first season as the Colorado Avalanche, they won their franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

 After this, they would string off an NHL record nine straight division titles in their division and would add another Stanley Cup to their resume in 2001. Their 2001 Stanley Cup is deemed one of the most memorable as former Boston Bruin Raymond Bourque was in his 22nd and final season and was able to raise the cup in his very last NHL game as a member of the Avalanche.

 During this nine-year stretch, they were part of one of the most NHL rivalries to date between them and the Detroit Red Wings. In this nine-year stretch, these two teams would have very heated contests and would frequently meet in the playoffs, sometimes with a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals on the line.

 Ultimately in this period, the Red Wings would win three Stanley Cups to the Avalanche two, but it was integral towards the popularity of the NHL and improving the fan base of those two franchises. Colorado Avalanche games are one of the more popular games to attend.

 After the 2002-2003 season, the Avalanche fell back into mediocrity, as stars such as Patrick Roy and Raymond Bourque retired. Between finding their new star players, and other teams in their divisions upping their level of play, they would not see another division title until the 2013-2014 season. They have not been to a cup final since winning it all in 2001.

 The last decade has seen many new stars come into the picture to make the Avalanche a new perennial powerhouse. With names like MacKinnon and Rantanen, the Stanley Cup should be obtainable in the near future.

By 2021-04-27.    Colorado, Recreational   

Things to Do in Denver and Top-Rated Places to Visit

During the 1850s, Denver began to experience a lot of growth since gold was discovered in the region. Currently, the city is among the best places to reside and also play while in the U.S. 

 In Denver, there is something for everyone, be it children, adults, or couples. The city has many parks. We now get to look into some of the best things to while in Denver and the best places to visit:

1. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science

 The museum is present at the southeast corner of the city park, and it is among the major attractions in Denver. There are different exhibits in the museum includes remains of animals from the Ice Age and dinosaur skeletons.

 Different exhibitions also get into the museum once in a while, which means there will always be something new to see. There is also a theater by IMAX and a Planetarium. After you have strolled around the entire museum, you can spare some time and enjoy the scenery by the City Park. 

 During summer, there is always a jazz concert, and it usually is free. The Space Odyssey exhibit was renovated recently, and it is now better as compared to before. 

2. Enjoying Live Music at the Amphitheater and Red Rocks Park

 Red Rocks Park is among the important tourist attraction sites in Denver. From the city center, you are supposed to commute for 15 miles to get there. For those who don’t own cars, some shuttles usually take people to and fro, which means you can arrive at your destination at ease. 

 The Red Rocks Park is a venue usually used for live music. The name also comes from the rock formations that are red, and they are present on the trails that normally form the amphitheater walls.

 If you want to listen to some great talents, spare some time to go to Red Rocks Park. Many great talents usually show up, and they never disappoint. 

3. Denver Botanic Gardens

 The Denver Botanic Gardens first came about in the 1950s. It is among the most notable botanical gardens in the U.S., and it has occupied over 23 acres. The garden emphasizes typically sustainable and native plants. The practices at the garden are also environmentally responsible. 

 Nevertheless, there are different plants on display from different parts of the globe. Throughout the year, some special events are hosted by the Denver Botanic Gardens. Some of these events include concerts where some of the recognized talents in the U.S. and other parts of the globe usually perform.

4. Seeing the Shows Hosted at the Denver Center

 At the Denver Center, there are numerous venues, and they include the Auditorium theater, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, and the Boettcher Concert Hall. For those who are in the pursuit of looking for something to do in Denver, you can visit the Denver Center for entertainment.

 At night, you will get a chance to watch a Broadway show. The venue usually hosts different major events. Also, it serves as a home to the Denver Center Attractions, the Denver Center Theater Company, and the Denver Center Theater Academy. The center also hosts acting classes and other programs that entail ensuring there are development opportunities.

5. Denver Art Museum

 The Denver Art Museum has a huge collection that comprises Indian, American, European, Asian, Oceanic, and African art. The collections normally include the pre-Columbian and Spanish Colonial works.

 The Native American galleries were recently remodeled, and they are quite impressive currently. The museum has covered different tribes and cultures from Canada and the U.S. The collection in the museum comprises pieces that date back to 2,000 years ago.

 The contemporary and modern art collection comprises some of the emerging and well-known names. There is also a gallery that is only meant for photography.

Final Thoughts

 Are you interested in activities such as traveling? Well, you can travel to areas such as Denver. Fortunately, there are different activities that you can partake in a while in the city. Also, there are many places that you can visit, and they have been listed above.

By 2021-03-29.    Denver, Recreational