Milan Hejduk is a Czech–American former professional ice hockey forward. Nicknamed "the Duke", he spent his entire 14-year National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Colorado Avalanche and retired holding the record for most career games as an Avalanche player with 1,020. In 2003, he won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal scorer. He is a member of Czech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
Hejduk with the Colorado Avalanche in 2008
Hejduk with the Avalanche in 2008
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The team plays its home games at Ball Arena, which it shares with the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Denver Nuggets and Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League (NLL).
Quebec Nordiques warm up for a game in the 1986–87 season. The Avalanche played as the Nordiques from 1972 to 1995.
Patrick Roy played for the Avalanche from 1995 to 2003.
In 1997, the Avalanche matched an offer sheet on Joe Sakic, instigating salary raises throughout the NHL.
The Pepsi Center opened as the Avalanche's new home arena in 1999.