Postcards From Quebec: Feb. 22-23
The Jr. Avs wrap up the trip with a dinner with billet families
by Rui Encarnacao / ColoradoAvalanche.comWith no more hockey to be played in Quebec, the Colorado Avalanche Pee-Wee team spent Saturday at iSaute, a local indoor trampoline park.
Players enjoyed the 30,000 square foot warehouse full of trampolines from wall to wall, playing dodgeball and basketball on trampoline "courts" and practicing their flips into foam pits. It was the perfect team activity to follow up a tough loss on Thursday night.
Postcards From Quebec: Feb. 21
The Jr. Avs have a casual skate at an outdoor rink
by Rui Encarnacao / ColoradoAvalanche.com
Since the Colorado Avalanche Pee-Wee team finished up playing games for their trip on Thursday, the team headed to same outdoor rink they practiced at on Monday for a casual fun skate on Friday.
The rink is one of two full outdoor sheets and is part of the local town's recreation center where all town residents get to utilize it for free. It is the home recreation center for one of the Jr. Avs billet captains.
Postcards From Quebec: Feb. 20
The Jr. Avs fall in their final game of tournament play to the Halifax Mooseheads
by Rui Encarnacao / ColoradoAvalanche.comThe Colorado Avalanche Pee-Wee team had a long day ahead of them on Thursday with activities planned before an 8:30 p.m. game at Videotron Center.
Players got to spend more time with their billet families in the morning before meeting up at Galeries de la Capitale, a local mall that actually hosted exhibition games for the tournament in years past. At the mall, players were given free time to walk around and check out the different kinds of shops. With such a late game on Thursday night, it was good for the team to move around during the day.
Postcards From Quebec: Feb. 19
The team goes to Village Vacances Valcartier after an exhibition game
by Rui Encarnacao / ColoradoAvalanche.comThe Colorado Avalanche Pee-Wee team played in their fourth exhibition match of the trip on Wednesday against the Seigneurie Chevaliers of Quebec, Canada.
The team had a slow start, not scoring their first goal until the second period. The team began to execute and make plays resulting in three goals scored in the second period and four in the third.
Postcards From Quebec: Feb. 18
The Jr. Avs played an exhibition contest and watched a Quebec Remparts game
by Rui Encarnacao / ColoradoAvalanche.comAfter a lengthy day on Monday, the Colorado Avalanche Pee-Wee team was given the morning off leading up to their third exhibition match of the trip. The pee wees faced-off against Cardinal-Roy Royal, another local school team in Quebec.
The Tuesday afternoon game wound up finishing in a 2-2 tie with forwards Dimarco Benallo and Brayden Hall scoring for the Jr. Avalanche while goaltender Griffin Niedzielski was in net. After regulation, the referees allowed the teams to play in a shootout to decide the victor.
Postcards From Quebec: Feb. 17
The Jr. Avs dressed in their full Avalanche uniforms for an outdoor morning skate
by Rui Encarnacao / ColoradoAvalanche.comThe Colorado Avalanche Pee-Wee team was on a professional schedule on Monday, starting the day off with a morning skate at an outdoor rink in Sainte Catherine de la Jacques Cartier, Quebec.
Coach John McKibbon allowed the players to dress in their full Avalanche uniforms to get the team feeling good for the big game in the evening. The squad practiced for a short period of time and ended in a shootout competition that the postcard author of the day, Dimarco Benallo, won.
Postcards From Quebec: Feb. 15-16
The group visits the Carnaval de Québec
by Rui Encarnacao / ColoradoAvalanche.comThe Colorado Avalanche Pee-Wee team had a day off from team activities on Saturday, giving them the opportunity to spend quality time with their billet families. Many of the billets hosted the player families that are in town for the tournament.
On Sunday, the team met at the Quebec Winter Carnival, which coincides with the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament each year. In its 66th year, the Carnaval de Québec spans over 10 days with many different attractions including ice sculptures, parades and other winter related activities.
Postcards From Quebec: Feb. 14
The Jr. Avs open tournament play with a win
by Rui Encarnacao / ColoradoAvalanche.comThe Colorado Avalanche Pee-Wee team began the day on Friday with a behind the scenes tour of the Quebec Parliament Building located in the heart of the city. The Hôtel du Parliament is an eight-floor historical building that is home to the Lietuenant Governor and National Assembly of Quebec. The Jr. Avalanche received an in-depth look into the renowned building and the different functions of each room.
After the tour, the team headed to one of their billet families' Chinese buffet restaurant for a team lunch, a big hit amongst the players.
Postcards From Quebec: Feb. 13
The team goes dogsledding after an exhibition game
by Rui Encarnacao / ColoradoAvalanche.com
The Colorado Avalanche Pee-Wee team played in its second exhibition game of the trip on Thursday. Goaltenders Griffin Niedzielski and Matthew Toomey once again split the match against the St. Albert Jr. Oilers in Wendake, Quebec.
The Jr. Oilers of Alberta, Canada, played a complete game on both ends of the ice and defeated the Jr. Avs 10-0. Fortunately for the Jr. Avs, the exhibition games are designed for teams to use to get ready for the all-important tournament play, which the team will begin tomorrow night at the Videotron Center.
Postcards From Quebec: Feb. 11-12
The Jr. Avs arrive in Canada and meet their billet families
by Rui Encarnacao / ColoradoAvalanche.comThe Colorado Avalanche Pee-Wee team began its journey to Quebec City on Tuesday morning starting at Denver International Airport. The team's flight took them to Montreal where the team bus picked the group up and drove The Jr. Avs to Quebec City. No team activities took place due to the full day of travel.
After a team breakfast at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, the Jr. Avs headed to Complexe Sportif Wendake to play in their first match of the trip, an exhibition game versus Jésus-Marie de Beauceville Lynx.