The Avs Hockey Podcast

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

The Avs Hockey Podcast, Episode #97

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In this show, Jay, James “Tapeleg” Gralian, and our special guest Wil Shippy from The Ducks Avs Podcast discuss EJ’s new deal, two new Avs jerseys, Reto Berra looking comfortable, and the start of the 2015-2016 Avalanche season.  Those topics and much more Avs and hockey stuff coming at you in episode #97 of The Avs Hockey Podcast. Welcome to the season Avalanche fans and thanks for joining us!

Things you should click on

Twitter accounts/links that helped make this show awesome:

The Avalanche recently released their 20th anniversary team as voted on by the fans.  You can find the team here.

Mile High Sports also chose a 20th anniversary Avs team.  Check it out here.

The Denver Post has a 20th anniversary team too.  Details here.

Follow Brendan McNicholas, Avs Media Relations on the Twitter machine

The Avs salary page on General Fanager

Colorado Avalanche Prospects information from AHP’s good friend, Jori.

New jerseys?  You bet!

The new alternate jerseys were officially released during a public practice at Pepsi Center on October 9th. Schedule here. Cool video here.

Jerseys and details for the Stadium Series game in February.

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.

The Avs Hockey Podcast, Episode #95

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In this show, James “Tapeleg” Gralian and Jay discuss the 2014-2015 Colorado Avalanche season, our highlights, lowlights, MVPs, and LVPs, Ryan O’Reilly’s future with the team, and how the Avs match up against current NHL playoff teams.  Those topics and much more Avalanche and hockey stuff coming at you in episode #95 of The Avs Hockey Podcast.  Thank you for joining us Avs fans.  We hope you enjoy the show.

Useful Internet linkage from the show:

The Avs announced their new AHL affiliate on April 17th.  Details here.

How about a few highlights from the season?

Daniel Briere’s 300th career goal on October 13, 2014 was a last-second game-winner in Boston.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVv2rCqyDs8[/youtube]

The Avs scored two goals in nine seconds twice this season.

First, it was Cody McLeod and Matt Duchene on February 16, 2015.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnbCL6vYpXE[/youtube]

Then it was Jarome Iginla and Ryan O’Reilly on April 7, 2015.  These two goals are showcased at 2 minutes and 10 seconds of this highlight video.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJEz67ErsQ[/youtube]

Speaking of Avs/Preds on April 7, 2015, check out Joey Hishon’s first career NHL goal at 4 minutes and 5 seconds of the video.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJEz67ErsQ[/youtube]

The Captain celebrates Hishon’s goal in style with a water bottle shower for 38.  Good hockey stuff here.

Nathan MacKinnon’s first career hat trick against the Lightning at Pepsi Center on February 22, 2015.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz5j4eNHMQQ[/youtube]

Erik Johnson, 2014-2015 Game Worn Burgundy Jersey

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Not too long ago Erik Johnson had a career/all-star year going and then it ended way too quickly.  The Avalanche hung in there without him, but his absence definitely didn’t help the cause at all.  Even though E.J. missed the last 33 games of the 2014-2015 season (as well as the all-star game) with a knee injury, he was still able to set a career high in goals scored.  That’s pretty impressive considering he missed just short of half of the season and that’s also one of the reasons why I added this to my collection when I had the opportunity.
2014-2015 Erik Johnson Burgundy Set 1

2014-2015 Erik Johnson Burgundy Set 1 back

Even though Erik Johnson did a lot of things in this jersey there isn’t a lot to photo match on it.  That made me sad.  There is a team repair and some wear near the left elbow.

2014-2015 Erik Johnson Burgundy Set 1 left sleeve

And there are some faint stick marks just below the crest as well.

2014-2015 Erik Johnson Burgundy Set 1 below crest

Overall though, for as much action as this jersey saw, I’ve had a hard time finding a definitive match.  The closest I have gotten is a thread pull off the six on the number on the back and another couple pulls on E.J.’s right sleeve number.  Here’s a shot of him scoring his second goal of the game against the St. Louis Blues on December 13, 2014 at Pepsi Center.  This was his first career two-goal game.

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 13: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche shoots and scores his second goal of the night against the St. Louis Blues to tie the score 2-2 in the second period at Pepsi Center on December 13, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 13: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche shoots and scores his second goal of the night against the St. Louis Blues to tie the score 2-2 in the second period at Pepsi Center on December 13, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Let’s zoom in on the thread pulls and get a closer look.

2014-2015_Erik_Johnson_Burgundy_Set_1_thread_pulls

Here is Johnson getting some love from the bench after that tally.  Well done, E.J.

December 13 2014: Members of the Avalanche congratulate Colorado Avalanche defenseman, Erik Johnson (6) on his second goal of the night during a regular season NHL hockey game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
December 13 2014: Members of the Avalanche congratulate Colorado Avalanche defenseman, Erik Johnson (6) on his second goal of the night during a regular season NHL hockey game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

In the photo matching game sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.  It may not be a stick mark, a burn, an unrepaired hole, or a team repair, it may be something as simple as a pull or a hanging thread.  In the end, it ALL counts.

By the way, here is some video from the goal pictured above.  Tap the stick, let it rip, and pump the fist.  Beautiful.

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

In a related jersey note, the Avalanche are now auctioning off their game worn jerseys rather than going through The MeiGray Group.  For us long-time jersey collectors this has been a transition, but things are still okay.  Here’s the new tagging that lets collectors know this jersey is an authentic game-worn Avalanche jersey.

2014-2015 Erik Johnson Burgundy Set 1 set tag

According to the Avs, and assuming my math is correct (which is always a stretch), Erik Johnson wore this jersey in 13 games at Pepsi Center (minus the home games when the team wore their blue alternate jerseys.)  He recorded five goals and three assists in those 13 games.  Here are the other four goals he scored (in addition to the video linked earlier in this post.)

October 30, 2014 against the Islanders.  This rocket gave the Avs a 5-0 lead in the third period.  Icing on the cake time.

November 22, 2014 against the Hurricanes.  This wicked wrister scored just after the power play ended got the Avs within a goal of the Canes in the second period.  Watch Johnson change the angle (Milan Hejduk style) just before he shoots it.  Spectacular.

In mid-December Johnson really started to heat up beginning with a two-goal effort against his former team.  The second goal is already linked above.  Here’s the first goal he scored on the power play on December 13, 2014 which gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead later in the first period.  This time E.J. goes with the big slap shot.

The final goal Erik Johnson scored while wearing this jersey capped a four-game goal streak (the first four-game goal streak by an Avs defenseman since Sandis Ozolinsh did it in 1996) and a stretch where Johnson scored six goals in six games.  This was on December 27, 2014 against the Blackhawks and gave the Avs a 2-1 lead about halfway through the first period.  He joined a potential rush and almost ended up giving up on that rush and getting back on defense.  Then, thankfully, Johnson noticed that Ryan O’Reilly had the puck and some space.  The rush was back on.  It’s always cool watching hockey IQ at work.  Watch this highlight once and check out O’Reilly’s work to gain the puck.  Watch it again and check out Erik Johnson’s feet.  That’s hockey!

So there’s much of the journey of this jersey.  Plenty of highlights in a career first-half (plus a few games more) of a season.  I’m sure I speak for many of you when I say that I wish I could have seen the rest of Erik Johnson’s 2014-2015 season.  Sometimes things just aren’t meant to be.

Either way, here’s to hoping that Erik Johnson’s best hockey with the Avalanche is yet to be played.

Let’s Go E.J. and Let’s Go Avs.

***Special thanks to my friends at Avalanche.nhl.com for the statistics, videos, and details.  Creating this post was much simpler (and fun) because of the work you do.