Milestone No. 16: The Avalanche’s 1996 Stanley Cup Victory
In 1996, Colorado sports fans experienced a historic moment when the Colorado Avalanche won their first Stanley Cup. This victory marked the first major professional sports championship for Denver, signaling the start of a dominant era for the franchise.
The Avalanche had recently relocated from Quebec, where they played as the Nordiques, after the team was sold to COMSAT Entertainment Group due to financial struggles. The move to Denver proved to be a success, as the city enthusiastically embraced the new NHL team.
Led by young stars Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Adam Foote, along with head coach Marc Crawford, the Avalanche made an immediate impact. They won their first-ever home game against the Red Wings, setting the stage for a strong season.
A pivotal moment came when General Manager Pierre Lacroix orchestrated a blockbuster trade, acquiring legendary goaltender Patrick Roy and Mike Keane from the Canadiens in exchange for Andrei Kovalenko, Martin Rucinsky, and Jocelyn Thibault. Roy’s presence proved crucial, giving the Avalanche a game-changing edge in net.
The team finished the regular season with 104 points and entered the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. They defeated the Canucks and Blackhawks in six games each, with Roy making headlines for his confident trash talk against Chicago’s Jeremy Roenick.
In the Western Conference Finals, the Avalanche faced the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings, who had dominated the regular season with 131 points. However, Colorado stunned Detroit by winning the first two games on the road and ultimately closing out the series in six games, thanks in large part to Roy’s stellar goaltending.
The Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers was a one-sided affair. After winning the first two games in Denver, the Avalanche dominated Game 2 with an 8-1 victory. They sealed the championship with a thrilling 1-0 triple-overtime win in Game 4, with Uwe Krupp scoring the game-winning goal.
With that victory, Denver finally had its first major professional sports title, ending years of heartbreak from previous championship losses. The Avalanche’s triumph in their inaugural season in Colorado was the start of a decade-long era of success.
