The Avs Hockey Podcast

Two Fan's Perspectives on Colorado Avalanche Hockey...and jerseys too.

Gabriel Landeskog, 2014-2015 Game Worn White Jersey

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I don’t have many “favorite” jerseys in my collection.  I’m not too picky.  If it’s an Avalanche jersey I’m pretty much cool with it.  Some of the game worn jerseys I own have better stories than others.  That’s the nature of collecting.  I may need to redefine “favorite” after acquiring this jersey though.  It’s pretty cool.

Landeskog 2014-15 White Set 2

Landeskog 2014-15 White Set 2 back

There’s the obvious.  This is a Gabriel Landeskog game worn jersey.  It was worn during 14 road games during the 2014-2015 season.  Its first game on the ice was on December 18, 2014 in Pitsburgh against the Penguins.  The final game in which it was worn was on February 8, 2015 against the Jets in Winnipeg.  Landeskog recorded one goal and five assists while wearing this jersey.

Those are the bigger details.  This jersey, as so many are, is all about the small details.

I don’t own a jersey in my collection that I’ve been able to match to as many photos and video as this one.  My workflow usually includes sharing most of the photo/video matches I find.  If I chose to do that with this jersey it would take a while.  Here are the bigger highlights in the interest of time and energy.

This jersey is a mess in a good game worn jersey way.  8+ team repairs, blood stains, goal post paint, marks, burns and more.  92 plays a physical game and this jersey is a beautiful testament to that.

My eye was drawn to the obvious first.  The left arm of this jersey is a hockey war zone.

Landeskog 2014-15 White Set 2 left arm

Look back at that last picture and please notice the thread on the bottom of the nine on the sleeve.  Now check out this picture and look for that same thread.

WINNIPEG, CANADA - FEBRUARY 8: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on from the bench prior to puck drop against the Winnipeg Jets on February 8, 2015 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, CANADA – FEBRUARY 8: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on from the bench prior to puck drop against the Winnipeg Jets on February 8, 2015 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

Zoom.

92_Bench_Thread_Zoom

The left elbow in this picture shows some of the damage before it was repaired.

GettyImages-460833560_master

Zoom.

92_Left_Elbow_Unrepaired

And the jersey in action in its final game against the Jets in Winnipeg on February 18, 2015.

GettyImages-463589272_master

Zoom.

92_Left_Elbow_Last_Game_Repairs

I have been able to share plenty of highlights with jerseys in my collection in action on the ice.  This jersey, however, was the first jersey I’ve ever been able to confidently video match.  Landeskog’s lone goal scored while wearing this jersey was scored on January 15, 2015 against the Florida Panthers.  Fast forward to about five minutes and 30 seconds of the video below and be sure to check out  the rip above the right sleeve number as Landeskog skates back to the Avs bench after he’s done celebrating with his teammates.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D-MEyDFk0A[/youtube]

 

Here’s a screen capture from that skate back to the bench.

92_Video_Match_Cap

Here’s a closeup of the repair.

Landeskog 2014-15 White Set 2 right shoulder

And a photo match of that repair.  Look just above the “2” on the right sleeve.

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 27: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Colorado Avalanche during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on January 27, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – JANUARY 27: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Colorado Avalanche during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on January 27, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

Zoom.

92_Video_Match_Repair

Now we’re having all kinds of fun with jerseys.

Also worth noting, Gabriel Landeskog scored a shootout goal wearing this jersey and, in my opinion, it might be one of the most memorable shootout goals in the history of Avalanche shootout goals.  I’m pretty certain Kari Lehtonen doesn’t see the humor in any of this for obvious reasons.  Fast forward to seven minutes and 50 seconds of this video to watch 92 score the hockey puck (as well as himself) on February 3, 2015 in Dallas.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcSNKt38hV4[/youtube]

 

Here’s that play in epic .gif form.

View post on imgur.com

As many of you already know, I have a few game worn jerseys in my collection.  They each tell a story.  As I mentioned previously, I don’t necessarily have favorite jerseys, but I definitely have favorite stories.  Here’s to hoping you appreciate the story my Gabriel Landeskog jersey tells as much as I do.

Welcome to the 2015-2016 season Avs fans.

Let’s Go Avs.

Erik Johnson, 2013 White Game Worn Jersey

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You had me at “multiple team repairs…”

As mentioned in a previous AHP jersey post, besides the 2013 season being lockout-shortened, it wasn’t the best season to be a Colorado Avalanche player or fan.  Second from the basement in the NHL is no fun no matter how we slice things.

But also, as mentioned in that same previous post, games (no matter how few) lead to game worn jerseys which lead to jersey history.  I like jersey history and I enjoy sharing my passion for jerseys via this blog.  All I needed was the description of the wear on this jersey and it was as good as sold.

Erik Johnson 2013 White set 2

Erik Johnson 2013 White set 2 back

This is Erik Johnson’s white set two jersey worn on the road during the last part of the 2013 season.  He didn’t do anything particularly special while wearing it except for beat it up real bad.  That’s why I really like that it’s now part of my Avalanche jersey collection.

Johnson played in seven games and recorded zero points while wearing this jersey.  He left the seventh game against the Kings in Los Angeles on April 11, 2013 after just three minutes and 56 seconds of ice time after suffering a hand injury.  Johnson didn’t return to the Avalanche lineup until the final game of the season on April 27 at Pepsi Center against the Wild.  This jersey was extremely well-worn for one that had only seen action in six games and change.  EJ was playing hard even though the team was struggling.  I/we like that a lot.

The official description from the listing from my friends at The MeiGray Group read, “This jersey has 2 team repairs on the left sleeve and 7 team repairs on the right sleeve.”  That led me to photo match the jersey (details below) before I even purchased it.  That’s fun.  Here’s the left elbow with two+ team repairs.

Erik Johnson 2013 White set 2 left sleeve

And here’s the right elbow.  To use a jersey term, it’s hammered.  Seven+ team repairs make it wonderful.

Erik Johnson 2013 White set 2 right sleeve

As per my usual workflow, I made my way to Getty Images to find pictures of Johnson wearing this jersey.  The game against the Ducks on April 10, 2013 in Anaheim had the best two examples showing the damage to the right sleeve of EJ’s jersey.  Here’s one image.

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 10: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche pins Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks against the glass in the second period April 10, 2013 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 10: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche pins Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks against the glass in the second period April 10, 2013 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)

And the zoom on the right elbow.

EJ_Photo_Match_Zoom_1

Here’s one other image including a great shot of the right elbow.

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 10: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks looks to steal the puck from Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche April 10, 2013 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 10: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks looks to steal the puck from Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche April 10, 2013 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)

And one more zoom.

EJ_Photo_Match_Zoom_2

This jersey lacks the history that many of the jerseys in my collection possess, but that doesn’t mean I like it any less.  The wear on this thing is as defined as any jersey I have acquired.  Big history or not, it still tells a story and I’m still proud it’s mine.

So, second to last place or not, Let’s Go Avs.

Milan Hejduk, 2013 Game Worn Burgundy Jersey

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At one point (at least when I wrote this blog post a few years ago) I was pretty sure I had one of Milan Hejduk’s final game worn jerseys.  His career was definitely winding down and there was considerable buzz that 23 would retire after the 2011-2012 season.  Turns out, I had to wait until a few seasons after Hejduk actually retired to acquire one of his final game worn jerseys.  In the end, everything still worked out.

The lockout-shortened 2013 season was a tough one for the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club and their fans.  The Avalanche had 16 victories in 48 games played and finished second to last in the league.  It can be said that perhaps the best thing about that campaign was the Avalanche winning the draft lottery following the season and being able to select Nathan MacKinnon in the June draft.  Ouch.

Even in shortened seasons though, there are jerseys.  Jerseys with history and with stories to tell.  The jersey below has a great story to tell.

Hejduk 2013 Burgundy Set 2

Hejduk 2013 Burgundy Set 2 back

This is Milan Hejduk’s burgundy set 2 worn from March 18, 2013 to April 21, 2013.  That was a span of seven home games, minus the games they wore their alternate jerseys at Pepsi Center and minus the games Hejduk missed due to injury (more on that later).  The jersey above is one of the last jerseys Milan Hejduk wore during his NHL career and if the documentation is correct as far as when the jerseys were worn, this is the jersey Hejduk was wearing when he scored his 375th and final Avalanche/National Hockey League goal.

Let’s go back to March 18, 2013.  This was the very first game the burgundy set two jerseys were worn.  Hejduk decided to break in his crisp new sweater in style beginning at 1:55 of the video below.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/hDgPX97pJi0[/youtube]

Long-time Colorado Avalanche faithful know classic Hejduk when we see it.  That was classic Hejduk.  Now let’s go to the bench and get some love.

DENVER, CO - MARCH 18: Milan Hejduk #23 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Pepsi Center on March 18, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – MARCH 18: Milan Hejduk #23 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Pepsi Center on March 18, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

I love that shot.

That goal was the only point Hejduk recorded while wearing this jersey on the ice.  Overall, this particular jersey saw action in just three Avalanche games.  Hejduk missed four other games where it would have been worn after suffering a shoulder injury midway through the first period during the March 30 game against the Predators at Pepsi Center.  Hejduk returned to action after missing nine games on April 19.

Here’s another great image of this jersey (before the shoulder injury) during pre-game skate on March 20, 2013.

DENVER, CO - MARCH 20: Milan Hejduk #23 of the Colorado Avalanche skates prior to the game against the Dallas Stars at the Pepsi Center on March 20, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – MARCH 20: Milan Hejduk #23 of the Colorado Avalanche skates prior to the game against the Dallas Stars at the Pepsi Center on March 20, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

This jersey has some history, but because of its limited action it has literally no game use on it.  There is this mark just to the right of the nameplate, but I have no pictures to match the mark with.

Hejduk_Photomatch

So no photo match.  That happens and that’s okay.  We’ll just need to go with the documentation.

While I have you here, let’s discuss big picture matters as well.  I’ve made this clear on numerous occasions on Twitter, a banner with the number 23 should hang from the rafters at Pepsi Center.  23 should be the sixth number the Colorado Avalanche retire.  Here are just a few reasons why:

  • 14 years with the organization.
  • 1020 games in an Avalanche jersey (most in Avalanche franchise history, 150 more games in an Avalanche jersey than Joe Sakic)
  • 375 goals (second most in franchise history behind only Joe Sakic (391).  Hejduk has 172 more goals than Peter Forsberg who is third on the Avalanche’s all-time list)
  • 430 assists (third in Avs history behind Sakic and Forsberg)
  • 805 points (behind only Joe Sakic in Avalanche history)

Joe Sakic is the greatest Nordique/Avalanche of all-time.  That’s a given.  Don’t argue.  Milan Hejduk has a pretty strong case for second on that list based on the statistics and his longevity with the team.  Heck, he was even a Quebec Nordique draft pick.  The numbers and history pretty much speak for themselves.

As for me, I’m already looking forward to the patches, the festivities, and the chance to honor a great Av on Milan Hejduk night.  I won’t be wearing this jersey to that game as it’s too small for me to wear, but there are plenty other Avs jerseys with number 23 on them in my collection that I have to choose from.  I can’t wait.

Let’s Go Avs.

***Special thanks to Avalanchedb.com for their game logs and easy to access all-time Avs stats.  It’s a GREAT Avalanche research site.  Be sure to check it out.

Adam Foote Night Game Worn Jerseys

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November 2, 2013 was a special night in Avs history.  It was the night the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club retired its fifth jersey number, the number 52 of Adam Foote.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0OvTnoKWrk[/youtube]

On nights like that teams have the opportunity to wear jerseys with unique patches.  Thankfully, that night was no different.  The Avalanche wore a one-game set of jerseys with commemorative patches on them.  Here’s that good looking patch.

AdamFooteNightPatch

In the past, I had arrived at Pepsi Center early for Joe Sakic’s and Peter Forsberg’s retirement ceremonies in hopes of purchasing loose jersey patches that I could put on blank jerseys later.  I had no such luck on Adam Foote night.  The rumor was the patches sold out quickly and there were only about 60 patches available for purchase by the public at Altitude Authentics, the main retail store at Pepsi Center.  It looked like the only way that I was going to acquire a patch was to get a game worn jersey from that night.  I could do that.

The game worn jerseys were auctioned off soon after the game and, as expected, they went for a fair amount of money.  I passed on getting into the auction action in hopes of finding a jersey (or two) down the road from a winning bidder.  It took a while, but it finally happened as I had hoped it would.  Here are the newest additions to my Avalanche jersey collection.

SarichAdamFooteNight

SarichAdamFooteNightback

GueninAdamFooteNight

GueninAdamFooteNightback

Cory Sarich and Nate Guenin have never been near the top of my favorite Avalanche players list, but when it comes to patched jerseys worn in one game I decided to not be too picky.

As with any game worn jersey I acquire, it was time to look for photo matches.  Jerseys with patches worn in one game are a little simpler when it comes to the photo matching process; simply look for the patch.  Here are the game highlights for your viewing pleasure.  I wanted to give you the chance to see these exact jerseys in action.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44uTmX3BVpo[/youtube]

According to the official stat sheet from that night’s contest, Nate Guenin logged 19 minutes and 39 seconds of ice time.  He had one shot on net and recorded two hits.  Cory Sarich played 17 minutes and 44 seconds.  He also had one shot and was credited with five hits.  Those numbers aren’t too bad at all, but they still didn’t amount to much (if any) game wear on the jerseys.  Upon close review all I could find is this faint mark on the crest of Sarich’s jersey:

SarichFooteNightCrestMark

And this small burn on the lower left sleeve of Guenin’s jersey.

GueninFooteNighLeftSleeve

Either way, no problem, these jerseys are well-documented one way or another.

As always, I went through Getty Images to find images of the players wearing these jerseys on the ice at Pepsi Center.  That’s a fun part of the documentation (and storytelling) process.  Here is the only picture captured of Guenin during the game.

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 2: Nate Guenin #5 of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck as Max Pacioretty #67 of the Montreal Canadiens reaches over his shoulder at the Pepsi Center on November 2, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 2: Nate Guenin #5 of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck as Max Pacioretty #67 of the Montreal Canadiens reaches over his shoulder at the Pepsi Center on November 2, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

It’s a REAL long shot, but maybe the burn on the left sleeve happened during this exact play.  A guy can dream, right?

And after the Sarich was offered to me this image made it even tougher to turn down the offer I had to add it to my jersey collection.

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 02: Cory Sarich #16 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Montreal Canadiens at Pepsi Center on November 2, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 02: Cory Sarich #16 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Montreal Canadiens at Pepsi Center on November 2, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

I was even able to match the mark on the crest when I zoomed in on the image from Getty.  Bonus!  (It’s tough to see, but trust me, it’s there.)

Sarich_Photo_Match

The Avalanche made Adam Foote night a little more memorable by defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-1.  These jerseys got a chance to celebrate that evening and that’s a very good thing.

So until my next game worn post(s), which will be soon, take care and Let’s Go Avs.

***A very special shout out to Ben Ho for giving me the opportunity to add these jerseys to my collection.  Thanks very much, Ben!