On August 22-23rd, 72 youth hockey players had the opportunity to participate in a three-on-three tournament during Colorado’s Alumni Back to Hockey Weekend.
The competition was split into two brackets, one for 10U and another for a combination of 12U and 14U. The brackets had six teams, representing Avs Alumni Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduk, Tyson Barrie, John-Michael Liles and Dan Hinote. Each of the teams’ players wore jerseys with the name and number of the alum they represented.
The tournament showcased the continued growth of youth hockey in the State of Colorado, which Liles said is great to see.
“It's just amazing,” Liles said. “And the fact that our group gets to be a part of it and continue to grow the game in the state of Colorado, that's kind of the goal for us. That's the goal of the alumni. Those are our pillars: accessibility and growing the game. And each and every one of us was fortunate enough to play the game of hockey for a living, and it's given us a lot. And so to be here as a group and giving back, I think it just makes sense.”
After the first day of competition, the players were able to have their jerseys, along with the cards and mini sticks they received, signed by the alumni in addition to taking a team photo with their squad’s former Av.
Day two of play featured the semifinals and finals at Magness Arena, home of the reigning NCAA Division I National Champions, the University of Denver Pioneers.
On the ice, Team Sakic won the 12U/14U title while Team Liles took home the 10U championship, capping off a fantastic tournament that showcased the Avs Alumni’s commitment to growing the game in Colorado, along with the team’s Youth Hockey Department.
“It has been incredibly beneficial to see our Alumni embrace and invest in the growth of hockey in Colorado,” said Melissa DiPonio, Colorado Avalanche Youth Hockey Program Manager. “Year after year, we continue to see more Alumni engage with and participate in our programs, which speaks volumes to the shared commitment to growing the game here where they played professionally.”
Not only did this tournament provide a special opportunity for the youth players to meet Avs Alumni members, but it brought players together from across the state.
“Our 3v3 Tournament is a great opportunity to bring players from different associations together to compete in a different format,” said Taylor Patrick, Avalanche Youth Hockey Event Manager. "Having Avalanche Alumni involved makes the experience even more special for the players and adds an exciting element.”
