Colorado Springs residents and lifelong Avalanche fans Pat and Chris said they didn't know what to expect of the event's debut but came excited for a chance to share in the activities.
Pat, who was featured as the King Soopers Hero of the Game during a 2016-17 game, was overjoyed at the signed stick and "5-foot-tall painting" he picked up at the Avalanche merchandise clear out sale at Pepsi Point outside section 102.
A skating clinic for over 200 Mile High Mites--youth hockey players associated with the Avalanche's Learn To Play program--started off the day and included six sessions with instruction from team alumni Milan Hejduk and John-Michael Liles. The two alums stuck around afterward to sign sticks, pucks, helmets and more on the concourse for fans eager to meet two of the top players in the team's history.
For 5-year-old Wade and 8-year-old Quentin (whose favorite current players are Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon, respectively), they said they had a lot of fun skating with Hejduk and Liles in the morning with the mites.
When asked to recall his favorite Avs moment, Quentin answered, "When they went to the playoffs last year."
That was a common sentiment throughout the day, as the fan fest was buzzing with memories of last year's turnaround season and many fans were full of optimism for the new campaign ahead.
The event also included photo opportunities and meet and greets with the RAM Trucks Avalanche Ice Girls and mascot Bernie, who could be spotted around the stands throwing snowballs and giving lots of high-fives. Various fitness challenges sponsored by UCHealth were also featured throughout the arena.