Avalanche celebrates Burns’ 1,500th NHL game with special pregame ceremony

On a night celebrating history, Brent Burns was honored for making some of his own.

The Colorado Avalanche celebrated the veteran defenseman reaching the 1,500 NHL games milestone - becoming just the 23rd player in League history to do so - with a special pregame ceremony before their "Heritage Night" game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Ball Arena on Thursday.

Burns played in his 1,500^th career game on Oct. 11 against the Dallas Stars.

The Avalanche defenseman was joined by his wife, Susan, his children, Peyton, Olivia and Jagger and his mom, Gaby, on the ice before the game, where the Avalanche donned Quebec Nordiques throwback sweaters. Their opponents, the Carolina Hurricanes wore their Hartford Whalers uniforms.

A special tribute video of highlights throughout Burns' 22 seasons aired on the arena video board.

Current and former teammates made special video messages posted by the Avalanche on social media.

“Just want to congratulate you. 1500 games, it’s absolutely incredible,” former San Jose Sharks teammate Joe Pavelski said in a clip. “Really glad I got a chance to play with you. No one delivers a puck like you did from the blue line, but honestly absolutely loved playing with you. One of my favorite teammates and don’t stop now meat, keep going.”

His family also sent their congratulations in a cute video.

“Congrats on 1500, I’m so proud of you,” Burns’ daughter Peyton said in the video. “I remember being a little girl on the ice watching you skate for warmups and feeling so happy that you were doing what you love and being so proud of you. You’re such an inspiration to all of us and those around you and all your teammates.”

During dinner on Wednesday, the Hurricanes gifted Burns a year supply of coffee and a special bottle of wine from 2003, the year the defenseman was drafted by the Minnesota Wild.

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog presented the veteran defenseman and his wife an all-expenses-paid trip to Meadowood Winery in Napa Valley.

Special assistant to the general manager Andrew Cogliano presented Burns with a customized gold puck plaque to commemorate the achievement.

Burns is in his 22^nd NHL season and first with the Avalanche. The veteran played 11 seasons with the Sharks, seven with the Wild and three with the Hurricanes.