Colorado connections

MONTREAL - The Canadiens will be practicing on the campus of the University of Denver on Tuesday afternoon.

With eight national titles on their resume, the Pioneers are the second-winningest hockey program in NCAA history, alongside the University of North Dakota.
Denver boasts three championships in the 2000s alone, securing college hockey's top prize in 2004, 2005, and most recently in 2017.
Here's a look at some of the connections between the Habs and their hosts in the Centennial State:
- The Canadiens have drafted seven Pioneers over the years, including forward Lynn Powis (6th round - 68th overall - 1969), forward-defenseman Mike Busniuk (5th round - 67th overall - 1971), goaltender Scott Robinson (10th round - 208th overall - 1980), defenseman Jeff Perpich (11th round - 218th overall - 1983), forward Ed Cristofoli (7th round - 142nd overall - 1985), defenseman Josiah Didier (4th round - 97th overall - 2011) and fellow blueliner Brett Stapley (7th round - 190th overall - 2018). Stapley is currently in his freshman season with the squad.
- Cristofoli is the only player on the abovementioned list to have suited up for the Canadiens, playing nine games during the 1989-90 campaign and collecting one assist. He also played for the AHL's Sherbrooke Canadiens and the Fredericton Canadiens as well. Cristofoli is the Pioneers' all-time leader in games played, dressing for 167 contests during his four-year stay.
- The only other University of Denver product to ever sport Canadiens colors was forward Brock Trotter, who played two games in 2009-10.
- Following his four-year playing career with the Pioneers, defenseman Adam Plant signed an AHL contract with the Laval Rocket in March.
- Former Canadiens goaltender Ben Scrivens was appointed the Pioneers' team manager in September. Scrivens appeared in 15 games with the Habs in 2015-16.

• Former Pioneers head coach Ralph Backstrom won six Stanley Cup titles with the Canadiens, hoisting the precious trophy in 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969.
  - Former Pioneers head coach and Montreal native Jim Montgomery played five games for the Canadiens in 1994-95.
  Looking back
  We caught up with Cristofoli, 51, who currently resides in Columbus, OH.
  He still has fond memories of the moment he learned that the Canadiens were calling him up from the AHL.
  "One of my roomates in the minors was John Ferguson Jr. John was the only one on the English side who was bilingual. He took the call from Serge Savard's secretary," recalled Cristofoli, who was in Sherbrooke at the time. "It was probably seven or eight o'clock at night. John handed me the phone and said, "It's for you. It's Serge," and then he gave me the thumbs up. I met up with [equipment manager] Bobby Boulanger. He had all my stuff packed, and I loaded my car and drove to Montreal. That's what I remember the most."
  In his eighth game with the big club on November 20, 1989, Cristofoli would collect his one and only point in the NHL ranks.
  It would prove to be a big one, as he collected the primary assist on Andrew Cassels' game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at the Montreal Forum.

"I remember carrying the puck. I got a chance to take off and I was coming in on Mike Vernon. I wasn't looking to pass, I was looking to score," said Cristofoli. "I took a shot on net, Vernon made a save. I missed my own rebound and Cassels came in from behind me, picked it up and basically had an open net and scored. I get back to the bench, we're all excited, and Pat Burns came over to me and said, "That should've been your goal. Think about it for a little bit.""
It just so happens that Cassels lives in the Columbus area as well and the pair remain close friends.
What's next?
The Canadiens will battle the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night at the Pepsi Center, before moving on to Arizona to square off with the Coyotes on Thursday.