My passion for game worn jerseys and telling their stories has been well documented here for many years. I have quietly collected Avalanche game used and goal scored pucks throughout the years as well. These pucks, just like jerseys, have stories to tell. As expected, I really enjoy doing the research and exploring the details and figured it was time to share some puck history here too. Hoping you appreciate these small pieces of Colorado Avalanche history as much as I do.
Back in late January of 2017 us Avs fans were pretty excited about a new young talent that had recently joined the club after spending some very productive time in San Antonio with the Rampage. He had size, unreal hands, and could most definitely score goals. By this time in his career, Mikko Rantanen had a well deserved, permanent spot on the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club roster. It was pretty cool to add Rantanen’s eighth career goal puck to the collection when it showed up on eBay later that season. First, the pics.
THE DATE: January 31, 2017
THE VENUE: Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
THE DETAILS: Mikko Rantanen at 5:13 of the second period. This goal got the Avs within one goal of the Ducks at the time. That was as close as the Avs would be the remainder of the game and was the only goal the Avs scored that game as well. This was Mikko Rantanen’s eighth goal of the season as well as the eighth goal of his career.
If you look closely at the picture of the back of the puck, there is a notch out of the top of the first zero on the NHL’s 100th anniversary logo. I tried really, really hard to photo match the puck to this photo on Getty Images, but I couldn’t quite get that done so I ended up, as I customarily do, trusting the team who taped, documented, and made the goal puck available to the public. Collectors have no choice but to trust our primary sources in the puck collecting hobby.
About a year after the puck beat Ducks goaltender John Gibson a local autograph collectibles business announced they were going to have a semi-private signing with Rantanen. I most definitely had to take advantage of that opportunity.
As usual with pro athlete signings, the 8th career goal and date inscription involved just a little extra money, but on a documented goal puck it’s always worth it and looks really cool too. It’s a nice touch for sure.
THE ASSIST: Mikhail Grigorenko
THE HIGHLIGHT:
Mikko Rantanen, as I publish this, is currently sitting on 143 career goals. It’s most definitely safe to say that virtually no Avalanche (or hockey fan, for that matter) is surprised by how many goals Rantanen has scored since he scored the puck above almost four years ago. It’s always a pleasure watching a young prospect grow into a top tier NHL winger, especially when that player plays for your favorite National Hockey League team.
Here’s to many, many more Rantanen (and Avalanche) goals, see you next goal puck post, and, as always, #GoAvsGo.
