CENTENNIAL, Colo.--With the first preseason game of the 2018-19 season in the books, the Colorado Avalanche got back to work at practice on Thursday.

The roster was split into two groups and each unit practiced for 75 minutes with the session split between the two sheets of ice at Family Sports Center. The first group had 11 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies while the second group had 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goaltenders.

Matt Calvert is in his first season with the Colorado Avalanche after signing a three-year contract on July 1 as a free agent.

The native of Brandon, Manitoba, was originally selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fifth round (127th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft. He has spent the last eight seasons playing in the Blue Jackets organization and has 149 points (72 goals, 77 assists) in 416 NHL games and 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 16 career Stanley Cup playoff contests.

The Colorado Avalanche announced Wednesday that the club has reassigned 10 players.

The Colorado Avalanche fell 5-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights in the team's first preseason game on Tuesday night at Pepsi Center.

"This game for me, it's not really about our veteran guys, especially those core guys that played tonight," said Colorado head coach Jared Bednar. "It's about trying to get them in a couple game situations and get them a few reps here before we take a real close look at a lot of other guys."

Colorado had 10 players on its game roster that had NHL regular-season experience and five others that were dressing in their first preseason contest. It was the first of the Avs' six-game preseason slate, which features home and road games against Vegas, the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars.

It might just be a preseason contest, but it will be the first in the NHL for five players on the Colorado Avalanche's training camp roster.

Forwards Josh Dickinson, Nick Henry, Logan O'Connor and Brandon Saigeon and defenseman Josh Anderson will all suit up for the first time on NHL ice this evening when the Avs begin exhibition play against the defending Western Conference-champion Vegas Golden Knights at Pepsi Center.

"Really looking forward to it," O'Connor said. "It's a good opportunity in front of us. It will be nice to sort of get training camp done with. Obviously there is still a lot ahead of us, but to get a real exhibition game in tonight will be a lot of fun."

The Colorado Avalanche begins its 2018-19 preseason schedule on Tuesday as the team battles the Vegas Golden Knights at Pepsi Center at 7 p.m. MT.

Goaltender Semyon Varlamov will get the start in net and will split time with fellow netminder Spencer Martin, who will likely play the third period. 

J.C. Beaudin was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round (71st overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft after spending the 2014-15 season with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

He recorded 215 points (77 goals, 138 assists) in 195 career contests in the QMJHL over the course of three seasons. In 2015-16, Beaudin finished second on the Huskies in scoring with 82 points (33 goals, 49 assists) in 58 games, helping the team to its first-ever QMJHL championship.

CENTENNIAL, Colo.--After four long days of energetic practices and demanding skate tests, the 2018-19 Colorado Avalanche training camp is complete.

The team wrapped up camp with its fourth day in a row of practices at Family Sports Center. The day once again saw the roster split in half with each group on the ice for a 45-minute session focused on special teams.

CENTENNIAL, Colo.--The pace at Colorado Avalanche training camp hasn't slowed down after three days of on-ice practices.

"My impression from what I've seen in all the tests on the ice, I think guys are in really good shape," said Avalanche defenseman Patrik Nemeth. "I think the test results have been really good. The practice on the ice has been really good, high pace. I think for us it's been a really good camp."

Spotlight On: Nikolai Kovalenko

After getting drafted in the sixth round (171st overall) by the Colorado Avalanche this past summer, Nikolai Kovalenko led his team to gold at the 2018 Russian Junior Club World Cup. He tied for the most points scored with eight (three goals, five assists) and was named best forward and most valuable player for his efforts during the tournament.

Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, the forward spent the 2017-18 season with Loko Yaroslavl in the Russian junior league (MHL) where he tallied 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists). He continued his near point-per-game streak in the playoffs where he recorded 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in 13 contests. The 5-foot-10, 174-pound right wing finished sixth in team scoring after his squad won the MHL championship.