Ball Corporation and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) today established a first-of-its-kind global partnership across three marquee venues in Denver, Los Angeles and London. The partnership was founded on a shared vision to advance sustainability in sports and entertainment by strengthening in-venue aluminum recycling, providing fans with a more environmentally friendly fan experience and showcasing aluminum beverage packaging as the most sustainable choice.

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has re-signed forward Tyson Jost to a one-year contract for the 2020-21 season. Additionally, goaltender Hunter Miska has been re-signed to a two-year extension through the 2021-22 campaign.

Jost, 22, collected 23 points (8g/15a) in 67 games for the Avalanche this past season, equaling his career best in assists set during the 2018-19 campaign. He skated in his 200th career NHL contest on Feb. 26 against Buffalo and has produced 72 points (32g/40a) in 208 career games. The St. Albert, Alberta, native has six points (4g/2a) in 30 career Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.

This year, Halloween will be spooky and sporty as families drive through the Pepsi Center Tundra parking lot on Oct. 30 for a "Trunk-or-Treat" event benefitting Special Olympics Colorado Young Athletes. Decorated cars and costumed volunteers will be on-site to provide pre-packaged candy, coloring sheets and assorted goodies as donors enjoy this unique fall festival.

This event is a fresh, COVID-19 friendly spin on Special Olympics' annual Harvest Festival. As the novel coronavirus led to mandatory social-distancing guidelines, Special Olympics knew it needed to pivot its fundraising efforts to be safe and fun for all. As a long-time Signature Partner, Kroenke Sports Charities offered to host a new version of the event--one that still offers fun games, handouts and snacks, but now also includes celebrities from all four teams of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. 

Colorado Avalanche executive vice president/general manager Joe Sakic hinted prior to the start of free agency that the trade route might be the best way for his club to add reinforcements to its roster this offseason.

While Sakic certainly perused the free agent market for NHL talent, he found exactly what he wanted in a top-six winger and depth defenseman by making a couple of deals.

When the Colorado Avalanche added Brandon Saad to its roster, the organization acquired a forward that knows what it takes to win.

Saad is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, having won the title with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015, and is just 27 years old.

"We think he's going to be a great fit and do a tremendous job," said Colorado executive vice president and general manager Joe Sakic. "He is a really good two-way player. He goes to the net; he gets his goals. We have a lot of great shooters, perimeter shooters, but he will be getting to the front of the net and getting those dirty goals. And we just think that he is a versatile player, can play anywhere in the lineup, and we think it's going to be a great addition."

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has acquired defenseman Devon Toews from the New York Islanders in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. 

Toews, 26, appeared in all 68 games for the Islanders during his first full NHL season in 2019-20, tallying 28 points (6g/22a). His six goals and 28 points finished second among New York defenders. The Abbotsford, British Columbia, native went on to skate in all 22 playoff games for the Islanders, where he tied for first among team defensemen with 10 points (2g/8a).

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has re-signed defenseman Ryan Graves to a three-year contract through the 2022-23 season.

Graves, 25, led the NHL with a +40 plus/minus rating this past season, the first Avalanche player to lead the league in that category since Milan Hejduk and Peter Forsberg (+52) in 2002-03. Graves' +40 mark was the highest ever by a Colorado defenseman and tied for the second-highest rating by a blueliner in franchise history (Quebec's Mario Marois was +49 in 1983-84). He became the first NHL defenseman to finish +40 or better in 10 years (Jeff Schultz, +50 with Washington in 2009-10).

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has acquired defenseman Kyle Burroughs from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward A.J. Greer.

Burroughs, 25, recorded eight points (2g/6a) in 58 games last season for the Islanders' American League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he served as team captain. It marked his first year in that role after serving as a co-captain the season before. Selected by the Islanders in the seventh round (196th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Burroughs has totaled 82 points (17g/65a) and a +15 plus/minus rating over 313 career AHL games, all with Bridgeport.

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has acquired forward Brandon Saad and defenseman Dennis Gilbert from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Anton Lindholm .

Saad, 27, is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning the title with Chicago in 2012-13 and 2014-15. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native has recorded 347 points (169g/178a) in 588 career regular-season games for the Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets, while adding 42 points (18g/24a) in 81 career postseason contests. 

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has re-signed forward Valeri Nichushkin to a two-year contract through the 2021-22 season.

Nichushkin, 25, tallied 27 points (13g/14a) in 65 games for Colorado this season, his first with the Avs after being signed as a free agent on Aug. 19, 2019. His 13 goals were one shy of his career high set during his rookie season with the Dallas Stars in 2013-14, and Nichushkin finished with a career-best +26 plus/minus rating, which ranked second on the Avalanche and tied for eighth in the NHL. Only three NHL forwards posted a higher plus/minus rating: Artemi Panarin (+36), Anthony Cirelli and Brayden Point (both +28). Nikita Kucherov tied Nichushkin at +26. The Chelyabinsk, Russia, native recorded a career-best three game-winning goals and scored his first career shorthanded marker on Dec. 4 at Toronto.